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Originally posted by djohnsto77
Hmm, how about when the term he was elected to is over?
January 20th 2009 at 12 noon -- mark it on your calendar.
Originally posted by RRconservative
You are not the only one wanting to get rid of Bush. Terrorists worldwide can't wait either!
Terrorist are just biding their time until we get a weak Democrat elected President. Why do you think Terrorists campained so hard for Democrats in 2006?
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
My main question about Bush is not whether he knew anything, he probably did, but how much. While I certainly think that Bush might have known that something was going to occur on 9/11, I am not certain that he knew any specific.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed Executive Order 01-261 September 7, 2001, four days before the WTC tragedy of Sept. 11, which paves the way for a declaration of martial law in his state. The governor, in his EO, delegated to, “...the Adjutant General of the state of Florida all necessary authority....to order members of the Florida National Guard into Active Service.”
Originally posted by Agit8dChop
With the president still around, he calls the shots.
Civics Lesson
The Legislative Branch: Making Laws to Protect Us
The legislative branch of our government is represented by Congress, which includes two parts: the House of Representatives, whose 435 members are elected according to the population of each state, and the Senate, which consists of two members from each state. Congress meets in Washington, DC, and both branches study bills which will become future laws, and problems which affect our nation. The House of Representatives includes the Speaker of the House (the head of the majority party) who becomes president if both the president and vice-president die or become incapacitated. Representatives are elected for two year terms.
In the senate, members are elected for terms of six years. The senators help create and pass laws, and also interview candidates that the president elects for certain offices (such as Supreme Court justices). It can also ratify treaties the president makes (with a 2/3 majority).
Introducing and passing legislation is an important function of both the House and the senate. New proposals for laws (called bills before they become law) are assigned numbers, are studied and reported on by committees, and eventually based on the committee recommendations, are voted on. Finally, if passed, the president signs them into law.
Civics Lesson
The Role of the President
The president has many important roles in the government of one of the largest and most powerful nations in the world. The Constitution states that the role of the president is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" (which is why this branch of government is known as the executive branch).
The President has certain powers that include proposing legislation to Congress in his annual address to the nation and during special addresses to Congress. He can also call special sessions of Congress if Congress adjourns before voting on important legislation that he proposes, and can veto bills that Congress passes (but Congress can overrule his veto with a 2/3 vote).
The president's job also includes appointing people to federal positions, including his cabinet members, the heads of federal departments, and justices of the Supreme Court. These appointees must be confirmed by the Senate. He appoints ambassadors, ministers and consuls to foreign countries, and represents our country in relationships with other nations. And along with the State Department, the president is responsible for the welfare of Americans abroad in other countries, and of foreign nationals in the United States.
The President is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces (but he can't declare war, only Congress can do that). As commander-in-chief he can call into federal service the state units of the National Guard, and during times of war or emergencies that affect our nation, Congress can grant the president increased powers to help protect national security. He can make treaties with other countries (that the Senate must ratify with a 2/3 vote). And only the president can authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
The president can grant a full or conditional pardon to a person who has broken a federal law, and the president has the power to shorten prison terms and reduce fines for people convicted of federal crimes.
Martial Law
[The martial law concept in the U.S. is closely tied with the Writ of habeas corpus, which is in essence the right to a hearing on lawful imprisonment, or more broadly, the supervision of law enforcement by the judiciary. The ability to suspend habeas corpus is often equated with martial law. Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution states, "The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion; the public Safety may require it."
In United States law, martial law is limited by several court decisions that were handed down between the American Civil War and World War II. In Ex parte Milligan 71 US 2 1866, the Supreme Court of the United States held that martial law could not be instituted within the United States when its civilian courts are in operation. In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids military involvement in domestic law enforcement without congressional approval. The National Guard is an exception, since unless federalized, they are under the control of state governors. [5]
This has now changed. Public Law 109-364, or the "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" (H.R.5122), was signed by President Bush on October 17th, 2006, and allows the President to declare a "public emergency" and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities. Title V, Subtitle B, Part II, Section 525(a) of the JWDAA of 2007 reads "The [military] Secretary [of the Army, Navy or Air Force] concerned may order a member of a reserve component under the Secretary's jurisdiction to active duty...The training or duty ordered to be performed...may include...support of operations or missions undertaken by the member's unit at the request of the President or Secretary of Defense."