[lit-ideas] Re: Giving Thanksgiving/Adorno and TAP

  • From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 23:44:19 -0800 (PST)

Well, I guess that it is in the eye of the beholder to some extent, but I 
believe that few if any democratic states grant the chief executive the ability 
to veto legislation, appoint the supreme judges and the major ministers 
(Secretary of State, Defense etc) and issue decrees that have the force of law 
as long as they are not openly unconstitutional.
 
Omar
 

--- On Tue, 12/7/10, Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx> wrote:


I'm not sure why you call the US form of government 'an authoritarian 
presidential system.' It isn't "authoritarian' in any ordinary sense of that 
word. Laws are passed by Congress and approved (or vetoed) by the president, 
although Congress may in turn override a veto by a vote of at least 2/3rds of 
both houses. The president appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court 
justices, but those nominated must be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court 
can overturn presidential directives (which are not voted on beforehand) such 
as Roosevelt's Executive Order 90662, which called for the internment of 
persons of Japanese descent living west of the Rockie Mountains. (In this case 
the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality.) A president may be impeached 
or removed from office on other grounds by
Congress (or, I imagine, by the criminal justice system). And so on.

 


      

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