Bush administration vs. the U.S. Constitution

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"He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation." --Declaration of Independence, the Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, July 4, 1776.

George W. Bush on the Constitution

  • "You need to have a president who understands you can't win this war with legal papers. We've got to use every asset at our disposal." --May 13, 2003, ABC News' Nightline.
  • "GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions" of the Patriot Act "could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.
"'I don’t give a goddamn,' Bush retorted. 'I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.'
"'Mr. President,' one aide in the meeting said. 'There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.'
"'Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,' Bush screamed back. 'It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!'" --Reported in Capitol Hill Blue, December 9, 2005.

Legislation

House Committee on the Judiciary Report

On January 13, 2009, the House Committee on the Judiciary, led by Chairman John Conyers, Jr. released a 486-page report[1] detailing alleged abuses and excesses of the George W. Bush administration and recommending steps to address them.

The report asks many legal and Constitutional questions concerning the actions by the George W. Bush administration's

The report makes many recommendations. These include the following.

  • Closing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay[9]
  • All persons arrested in the United States be subject to civilian law enforcement procedures with due process guarantees[10]
  • An end to torture and abuse by enforcing current laws[11]
  • End the CIA program of secret detention and abusive interrogation[12]
  • End extraordinary rendition of terror suspects[13]
  • End abuse of presidential signing statements[14]
  • Restoring the full protection of the attorney-client privilege[15]
  • Congress should restore the independence of the press while maintaining public safety[16]
  • Congress should pass legislation holding defense contractors responsible for their criminal misconduct[17]
  • Congress should pass legislation to strengthen legal protection for whistleblowers [18]
  • Congress should pass legislation that would strengthen contempt powers[19]

Notes

  1. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush
  2. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 41-71
  3. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 72-136
  4. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 137-145
  5. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 146-184
  6. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 185-190
  7. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 208-223
  8. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 233-269
  9. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 277
  10. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 278
  11. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 278
  12. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 279
  13. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 279
  14. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 285
  15. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 287
  16. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 287
  17. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 289
  18. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 291
  19. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr, 2009. Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush, page 291

Articles & Commentary

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2003

2004

2005

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