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Constitutional Cliffhangers

Online ISBN:
9780300178012
Print ISBN:
9780300123517
Publisher:
Yale University Press
Book

Constitutional Cliffhangers

Published:
24 January 2012
Online ISBN:
9780300178012
Print ISBN:
9780300123517
Publisher:
Yale University Press

Abstract

The United States Constitution's provisions for selecting, replacing, and punishing presidents contain serious weaknesses that could lead to constitutional controversies. This book envisions six such controversies, such as the criminal prosecution of a sitting president, a two-term president's attempt to stay in power, the ousting of an allegedly disabled president, and more. None of these things has ever occurred, but in recent years many of them almost have. Besides being individually dramatic, these controversies provide an opportunity to think about how constitutional procedures can best be designed, interpreted, and repaired. Also, because the events described would all carry enormous political consequences, they shed light on the delicate and complicated balance between law and politics in American government.

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