Could it be that even former Presidents can exercise Executive Power? I see Truman's point, but could this apply equally to all of Bush's advisers? I have no doubt Bush would make this argument considering how expansively he has interpreted Executive Privilege.
Remarks and observations concerning American law and cultural studies as it relates to courses taken by students in the University of Osnabrück's and University of Münster's foreign law programs.
16 November 2008
Can Congress Subpeona Bush as Former President?
What happens if the Democrat-controlled Congress wishes to order President Bush, once he becomes former-President Bush, to appear before a Congressional committee to answer for some of the things he did while President? It is clear that the idea of separation of powers in the Constitution precludes Congress from ordering a sitting President to appear. But a former President? The New York Times addressed this question a few days ago, and dragged out this quote from former President Harry Truman:
If the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the presidency is to have any validity at all, it must be equally applicable to a president after his term of office has expired,” Truman wrote to the committee.
Could it be that even former Presidents can exercise Executive Power? I see Truman's point, but could this apply equally to all of Bush's advisers? I have no doubt Bush would make this argument considering how expansively he has interpreted Executive Privilege.
Could it be that even former Presidents can exercise Executive Power? I see Truman's point, but could this apply equally to all of Bush's advisers? I have no doubt Bush would make this argument considering how expansively he has interpreted Executive Privilege.