The Job Descriptions of the President  and Vice President of the United States

H. L. Mencken said that “elections are nothing more than auctions for future stolen goods.” That maxim rings true by looking at the promises that a certain candidate running for President of the United States has made.   The candidate promises first-time homeowners a cool $25 grand.  When this candidate wasn’t polling too high among Black men, the candidate promised Black men forgivable business loans, and to make “recreational marijuana” legal so they can set up pot shops with the promised funds.  It wasn’t too long ago that this same candidate sent several thousand Black men to jail for smoking marijuana.  The candidate’s latest promise; increase the federal minimum wage to $15.

Her self-loathing running mate, who once apologized for his race, let Minneapolis burn while he and his wife enjoyed the smell of burning rubber, signed bills into law that allowed killing babies that survived an abortion and placing sanitary napkins in boy’s bathrooms, told people he was in combat when he wasn’t, and bugged out of his National Guard unit shortly before it was deployed, said that he wants to abolish the electoral college.

But what does that pesky U.S. Constitution-the one that all federal and state elected officials take an oath to defend- have to say about the powers and duties of a president and vice-president?  To begin, Presidents have no power to give money to first-time homeowners and Black men or for that matter, any men.  Both the president and Congress have no constitutional authority to set minimum wages.  And vice-presidents have no authority to abolish the electoral college.  That has to be done by an amendment to the Constitution. While presidents and vice-presidents have plenty of political clout, it is up to Congress,  and the states when it comes to the amending process.

The power and duties of the president and vice-president of the United States are clearly spelled out in  the U.S. Constitution.  And being the leader of the free world or what is left of it isn’t one of them.   Article 2 of the Constitution is where the powers and duties of the president are found.

Here they are:

1,  Commander in Chief of the Army, and Navy and of the Militia of the several states when called into actual service…

2,  Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States except in the cases of impeachment.

3, Make treaties with the advice and consent of 2/3rds of the Senate present.

4,  Nominate, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States…

5, Fill vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.

6, Give a state of the union address.

7, On extraordinary occasions, convene both houses or either of them.

8, Receive ambassadors and other public ministers.

9,  Take care that the laws are faithfully executed.

And in Article 1, Section 7, a president must approve every order or vote passed by Congress.  If disapproved (vetoed) it can be overturned by a 2/3^rd vote of Congress.

The duties of a vice-president are to be the President of the Senate, and vote if there is a tie (Article 1, Section 3.), and in the 25^th Amendment Section 4, the vice-president along with a majority of cabinet members, transmit to Congress that the President isn’t able to perform his duties.  And, in Article 2, Section 2, Paragraph 5, assume the office of the President when the president is removed, dies or is, unable to discharge his duties.

Unfortunately, over the years, the executive branch has become an unconstitutional entity from issuing executive orders that have the force of law to its numerous alphabet soup departments that run roughshod over the states issuing administrative laws with its  own enforcement arms to sending our military all over the world to fight in undeclared wars to giving  billions of dollars in  foreign aids to friends and foes alike.

(George Washington taking this oath of office)

Let’s hope that the majority of the voters prove another maxim attributed to H.L. Mencken wrong on November 5 :  “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”

Readers who would like a free pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution may request one from their member of Congress but by doing so, may be put on the Department of Justice’s watchlist.  Or they can request one from me. My E-mail is campconstitution1@gmail.com