Can't the Supreme Court turn down this bill?

AJ Antimony

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Just wondering. I mean it's so blatantly unconstitutional you'd think this is one even the Supreme Court wouldn't miss. Is there any chance they will rule this Act unconstitutional?
 
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/09/22/judicial-oversight-of-the-bailout-plan-fuggedaboudit/

"If the Bush administration has its way, anyone harmed by the Treasury Department’s handling of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout might have no remedy. . .The effort to block court review reminded some congressional staffers of the Bush administration’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when it issued language and took steps to keep judges from second-guessing decisions about wiretapping and detention of suspected enemy agents. . .In that crisis, and apparently in this one, the administration argued that exposing to court review actions made on the fly would deter officials from taking risks and responding quickly."

This would be the only real chance:

"a court might hear a constitutional claim, such as allegations that the method of deciding who gets paid or how much assets are worth violates the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause."
 
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It isn't unconstitutional under the Supreme Court ruling which created the "elastic clause".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessary-and-proper_clause

As a whole this may be true, but "as written" certain parts of it really could run afoul of due process. I'd be pretty willing to wager that 5 - 10 years down the line, part of the bailout bill is eventually ruled against...of course by then it won't really matter except for future precedent.
 
No your not.

The fact is that no where in the constitution does it authorize congress to bail out private institutions.


The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.


Article One of the United States Constitution, section 8, clause 18:
 
No where in the constitution does it state that the government has the authority to use taxpayer dollars to bailout private banks.

End of Debate
 
The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.


Article One of the United States Constitution, section 8, clause 18:

That clause is totally meaningless. It could be used to execute everyone in the entire country that eats ice cream.

No where in the constitution does it state the government has the right to bail out private banks and other institutions.
 
Kludge, let me guess... you think since that claus exists that the government has the right to do anything it wants.
 
That clause is totally meaningless. It could be used to execute everyone in the entire country that eats ice cream.

No where in the constitution does it state the government has the right to bail out private banks and other institutions.

The Supreme Court declared its meaning, that the congress may create whatever law it pleases if it relates at all with the economy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCulloch_v._Maryland

There are so many laws now using the ruling of that case that the entire government would be tied up in legislation for decades figuring out wtf to do, and with the Justices on now, there is no chance they'd overturn the ruling.
 
Kludge, let me guess... you think since that claus exists that the government has the right to do anything it wants.

I dislike the current Constitution and think it allows for much of the tyranny we see today (although it has also prevented much, much more). That said, the government set forth in the Constitution has permitted for the Supreme Court (based on the Supreme Court's own ruling) to allow Congress to do wtf it pleases so long as they claim it connects with the economy.
 
No where in the constitution does it state that the government has the authority to use taxpayer dollars to bailout private banks.

End of Debate

No. Not exactly, but the bill is still unconstitutional for other reasons.

Our system of law uses the Anglo-American idea of stare decisis: the interpretation of law (like the Constitution) is formed by past judicial decisions. Past judicial decisions (perhaps incorrect, but none the less binding) have interpreted the Constitution to allow payments like the bailout.

What they have NOT allowed is language like the bailout will likely include giving the Sec. of the Treasury carte blanche to do what he wants.

The NY Times said the plan is the financial equivalent of the Patriot Act. They very well may be right.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/business/23sorkin.html?em
 
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As Kludge pointed out, the Supreme Court is NOT YOUR FRIEND. They were never supposed to have the power to upheld or overturn laws based on Constitutionality - this is called Judicial Supremacy, and it is evil and unconstitutional in itself. This is how they subverted the Constitution, by using the Supreme Court as an accessory. The SC *does not have this authority*.

You know who has the authority to declare a law unconstitutional? We do. Only us, and only by voting our the congress persons who supported it. All the SC is supposed to decide is the guilt or innocent of the defendant in a particular case. That's it.
 
The Supreme Court declared its meaning, that the congress may create whatever law it pleases if it relates at all with the economy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCulloch_v._Maryland

There are so many laws now using the ruling of that case that the entire government would be tied up in legislation for decades figuring out wtf to do, and with the Justices on now, there is no chance they'd overturn the ruling.

Well, it's McCulloch combined with interstate commerce jurisprudence like Wickard, but yeah basically.

Still, the bill says this...“Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency,” the original draft of the proposed bill says.

^^^^That ain't cool (or constitutional.)
 
All the SC is supposed to decide is the guilt or innocent of the defendant in a particular case. That's it.


Really? I'm pretty sure the SC is very expressly given power in the Constitution over a quite a few civil cases. So, um, wrong.

And arguing that Marbury is wrongly decided? Really?
 
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