The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb 5, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

In 1944, when Franklin Roosevelt said he would run for a fourth term, discussions began on a Constitutional amendment to limit a U.S. President to two terms in office. In 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified.  Now, a Tennessee Congressman wants to repeal it.  Would it actually be possible for Donald Trump to be President again?

January 23rd, Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a joint resolution “proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times.”  

While the resolution received a lot of attention, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass, AND be ratified by three-quarters of the states, neither of which is likely to happen.   

Trump himself has flirted with the idea of staying in the presidency. The Hill reported Trump told GOP leaders, “I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something. Unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.”

A recent Politico article explained another scenario where a loophole in the 22nd Amendment could allow another Presidential candidate to run with Donald Trump as vice president. The new President would then step down, allowing Trump to become President again.   A 1999 Minnesota Law Review article discusses this and other such vaguely-legal maneuvers as well.  

Unlikely, yes.  Out-of-the-question, no.   We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Constitution – 22nd Amendment
National Constitution Center – FDR’s third-term election and the 22nd amendment

Office of Congressman Andy Ogles – Rep. Ogles Proposes Amending the 22nd Amendment to Allow Trump to Serve a Third Term
U.S. Congress – JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States to provide that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times.
The Hill – Tennessee Republican proposes amendment to allow Trump to serve third term
NBC News – Trump jokes about running for a third term in speech to House Republicans
Politico – How Trump Could Snatch a Third Term — Despite the 22nd Amendment

Univ. of Minnesota Law Review – The Twice and Future President: Constitutional Interstices and the Twenty-Second Amendment

Groups Taking Action:

Protect Democracy

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #22ndAmendment #PresidentialTermLimits #Repeal

The post Could Trump Run for a Third Term? The 22nd Amendment Prohibits it, But a TN Congressman Wants to Repeal It.  And There are Loopholes. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 22, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

We recently reported on presidential orders, including executive orders, and how they’re used.  Executive orders can also be used to revoke previous orders, and among President Donald Trump’s day-one orders was removing a policy of the federal government to promote access to voting.

Trump’s executive order, entitled “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” terminated 78 of President Joe Biden’s orders, including Order 14019 from March 7, 2021, setting a policy for the federal government to promote access to voting.

Biden’s order, as noted on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website, QUOTE “Directed all federal agencies to ‘consider ways to expand citizens’ opportunities to register to vote and to obtain information about, and participate in, the electoral process.”   This included ensuring equal access for voters with disabilities and non English-speaking Americans.  It ensured voting opportunities for active duty military and overseas citizens, and established a federal ballot tracking system to assist those voters.   

It created a federal working group to protect voting access for Native American voters, and it allowed time off for federal employees to vote and to serve as poll workers.   Importantly, it supported modernization of the Vote.gov website.   Although not included in day-one orders, Trump has also pledged to limit voting to election day only.  

We have more on Trump’s day-one executive orders at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The White House – INITIAL RESCISSIONS OF HARMFUL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND ACTIONS, Jan. 20, 2025
Federal Register – (2021)  Executive Order 14019 of March 7, 2021

NPR – (2024) Republicans are turning Biden’s voter registration order into a partisan flash point

VOX – The Trump executive orders that threaten democracy
Washington Post – (Paywall likely) Here are the executive actions and orders Trump signed on Day 1

Groups Taking Action:

Native American Rights Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, League of Women Voters US

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ExecutiveOrders #VoterRegistration #NativeVote

The post Executive Orders Can Also Terminate Previous Orders; One of Trump’s Day-1 Orders Ended a Federal Policy to Promote Voting appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 21, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

New Presidents often use “Day One” executive orders to move their policy agendas forward.  What are the different kinds of presidential orders, what are their limitations, and why do Presidents use them?

Since John F. Kennedy, presidents have averaged 269 executive orders over their terms.  Since 1907, each order receives a number, and all are cataloged at the National Archives.    There are three kinds of orders, according to Dr. Bert Rockman of Purdue University.   Executive orders are written orders, usually on  more weighty issues such as national emergencies or setting uniform policy for government action.    

Written presidential memoranda, authorize or freeze projects, share official positions with Congress, outline treaties and international affairs, and other policy matters.  Memoranda are not required to be published or public.  A third type are proclamations, such as a proclamation celebrating Juneteenth.   Pardons and clemency are not executive orders, but rather a separate power granted by the Constitution.

Gridlock resulting from the failure of Congress to compromise on legislation often stimulates presidents to use more executive orders, as presidents struggle to move their policies forward.  But executive orders can also be blocked by Congress or court review, as President Trump found out in his first term “Muslim Ban”, and may find again as he tries to end “birthright citizenship,” an action widely seen as unconstitutional.

Find more on the history of presidential orders at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Bar Association – (2021) What Is an Executive Order?

Dr. Bert Rockman, Purdue University – (2021) Executive Orders & Presidential Power
NPR – (2017) Executive Order Or Memorandum? Let’s Call The Whole Thing An ‘Action’
PBS – What is an executive order? Here’s what the tool can and can’t do
ACLU Washington – (2020) Timeline of Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban
NBC 4 NY- Is Donald Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship viable?

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ExecutiveOrder #PresidentialPower #TrumpInauguration

The post What is an Executive Order?  What are the Limits of Its Power?  Why Do Presidents Use Them? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.