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Activism See other Activism Articles Title: The United States Council of Censure for Constitutionality In accordance with the Ninth and Tenth Amendment rights and powers vested in citizens of America with allegience to its Constitution, this is to establish The United States Council of Censure for Constitutionality with the purpose of guarding all levels of our nation's government, as well as the Military that it directs and deploys, from encroachments upon and violations of this Republic's Constitution. The United States Council of Censure for Constitutionality and each of its State branches has the authority to officially censure the breaches and breachers of our Constitution and also to apply all legal means of accountability and redress for ensuring adherance to it. Introduction http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/censure censure: A formal, public reprimand for an infraction or violation. From time to time deliberative bodies are forced to take action against members whose actions or behavior runs counter to the group's acceptable standards for individual behavior. In the U.S. Congress, that action can come in the form of censure. Censure is a formal and public condemnation of an individual's transgressions. It is stronger than a simple rebuke, but not as strong as expulsion. Members of Congress who have been censured are required to give up any committee chairs they hold, but they are not removed from their elected position. Not surprisingly, however, few censured politicians are re-elected. While censure is not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the right to adopt resolutions, and a resolution to invoke censure falls into this category. The first use of censure was actually directed not at a member of Congress but at a member of George Washington's cabinet. Alexander Hamilton, Washington's treasury secretary, was accused of mishandling two congressionally authorized loans. Congress voted a censure resolution against Hamilton. The vote fell short, but it established censure as a precedent. In general, each house of Congress is responsible for invoking censure against its own members; censure against other government officials is not common, and censure against the president is rarer still. Because censure is not specifically mentioned as the accepted form of reprimand, many censure actions against members of Congress may be listed officially as rebuke, condemnation, or denouncement. The end result, however, is the same, and to all intents and purposes these are censure measures. At the same time, each censure case is different, and those delivering censure like to have enough leeway to tailor the level of severity. Still, the prospect of an open, public rebuke by one's peers is painful even for the most thick-skinned politician. Noteworthy Censure Cases Among the best known censure cases in Congress were the 1811 censure of Massachusetts senator Timothy Pickering for reading confidential documents in Senate sessions and the 1844 censure of Ohio senator Benjamin Tappan for releasing a confidential document to a major newspaper. Perhaps one of the more colorful censure motions was the 1902 censure of South Carolina's two senators, Benjamin R. Tillman and John L. McLaurin. On February 22, 1902, they began fighting in the Senate chamber. Both men were censured and suspended for six days (retroactively). Probably the most infamous censure case was the condemnation of Senator joseph r. mccarthy (R-WI) in 1954. McCarthy took the national stage at the height of the anti-Communist movement following World War II. McCarthy spent several years making claims that known Communists had infiltrated the U.S. government, and although he never offered proof of even one claim, his crusade was popular and powerful. Many Americans from all walks of life saw their lives destroyed in the early 1950s by groundless accusations of communist sympathies. His power unchecked, McCarthy became even more relentless, and in 1954 he openly attacked members of the Eisenhower administration in televised hearings. His colleagues realized they had no choice but to act. A censure committee was formed, and McCarthy as much as accused its members of being Communists. The vote to condemn McCarthy passed 65 to 22 on December 2, 1954. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) was found guilty in 2002 of taking illegal gifts and cash payments from a businessman and not reporting them. The businessman got help from the senator in Lobbying the government. Although Torricelli denied the charges, his colleagues found the evidence compelling enough to "severely admonish" him. While not called a "censure," this reprimand clearly had the same effect. Torricelli, who was up for reelection, saw his popularity plunge in a matter of weeks, and on September 30, 2002, he withdrew from the race. Presidential CensureCongress rarely acts against the president with a formal reprimand. Andrew Jackson was the first president to be thus reprimanded, by the Senate in 1834, after he removed the secretary of the treasury (a responsibility that Congress believed rested with the legislature). Jackson was a Democrat, but the Senate was controlled by the rival Whig Party. Three years later, when the Democrats took control of the Senate, Jackson's censure was expunged from the records. President John Tyler was reprimanded in 1842 by the House of Representatives, which accused him of abusing his powers. Apparently Tyler had promised representatives on several occasions that he would support certain bills, only to Veto them when they arrived at his desk. In 1848, President james k. polk was reprimanded by the House for starting the Mexican War without first obtaining Congressional approval. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln and his secretary of war, edwin stanton, were condemned by the Senate for allowing an elected member of the House to hold commissions in the Army. The Senate voted for the reprimand 24 to 12, but it was referred to a special committee and no further action was taken. In 1998, during the Impeachment trial of President bill clinton, several members of Congress attempted to have him censured instead, believing that while his behavior warranted rebuke it did not merit a full impeachment. The move for censure failed, and Clinton was impeached. Further readings "Congressional Ethics: Historical Facts and Controversy." 1992. Congressional Quarterly. Washington, D.C.: CQ. Thompson, Dennis F. 1995. Ethics in Congress: From Individual to Institutional Corruption. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution. Cross-references Congress of the United States; Impeachment. West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 10.
#4. To: GreyLmist (#0)
I have no idea who this "Council of Censure" is, but evidently they think they can have a monopoly on criticizing the government - and maybe make the rest of us pay dues to them when we want to criticize the govt. And, by the way, pretending to be some sort of official agency is a federal offense.
Don't be silly. This isn't a First Amendment censorship issue. It's about Protectionism of our Constitution, which is the government of our Republic. Criticize it if you want to. Move against it as an officeholder or whatnot and that calls for countermeasures of Censure such as: a Declaration of Non- Authority (for example), suspension or removal from office perhaps, legal actions, recompense... Go tell that to Federal Express and the Federal Reserve Inc's., shoonra. Read the opening words of the Preamble to the Constitution. This is the order of hierarchy: 1. We the People: of the United States and its Constitution, as the Founders' Posterity having allegience to the Republic which they established for us in accordance with the Constitition. 2. The Legislative Branch: a subset of We the Constitutionalist People of the United States of America, as noted above -- i.e. Law Offices of the US of A and not a UN soapbox for every worldview-whimsical who wants to act like it's their personal stomping ground. 2-B. The Legislative Branch (comprised of We the People as noted above) can, if necessary and upon proper Declaration of War or Letters of Marque issuance for actions short of War, use our Military forces (also comprised of We the People as noted above) within the parameters of Constitutional duties and enforcement but is to provide for their needs as Federal employees. They are not to be used as World Police. 4. The Executive Branch: Office of the Presidency and sub-offices thereof (is to be comprised at all levels of We the People as noted above). Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Constitutional legislation only (not Dictator or Monarch or "Leader of the Free World"). Commander in Chief of our Armed Services and of our Militia when they are called into the service of the United States generally by Congress, not the President. Is not to hold them hostage to do the bidding of the Executive, et al., but is to take care in directing them responsibly in their deployments in accordance with the Constitution. The Presidency is subordinate to Congress in War Powers, Impeachement measures, Appointments requiring their approval, and so on. 5. The Judicial Branch (comprised of We the People as noted above at all levels): Legal Consultants and Advisors for the United States of America. Is not a subdivision of Congress and cannot legislate from the bench. 6. Councils of Censure (comprised of We the People as noted above): Have the authority at the Federal level and all levels of the States, as the Posterity of our Founders, to review breaches and violations of our Constitution and also to correct them by lawful means whenever any branches or all of the branches outlined here and within the Constitution of the United States (including Constitutions of the States thereof) are in error and fail or refuse to promptly correct themselves. Review this thread and Amendments 9 and 10 for referencing as needed. Edited for spelling, punctuation, spacing, last sentence of paragraph 1, and for wording of #6.
(GreyLmist) Go tell that to Federal Express and the Federal Reserve Inc's., shoonra.
I've waited long enough for Shoonra to report back on that assignment. I'm just going to mark it down as Incomplete.
There are no replies to Comment # 10. End Trace Mode for Comment # 10.
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