Congress Considers Defining Decrees, Wars as Impeachable Crimes

In an effort to rein in an increasingly out-of-control executive branch, Congressman Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) introduced a House Resolution on April 13 that specifically defines “impeachable offenses” as everything from starting a war without congressional authorization to issuing executive orders purporting to circumvent Congress. If approved by the full House of Representatives, the measure would put the Obama administration and future presidents on notice that perpetrating any of the specified high crimes or misdemeanors will result in articles of impeachment being voted on. The law “should warn before it strikes,” the measure explains, offering a series of reasons why such a resolution is needed. Commenting on the measure, Rep. Yoho made clear that the definitions — while clearly applicable to Obama’s ongoing constitutional abuses — are not intended to be partisan and must apply to future presidents of both parties.

 

“Many of the people I have the honor of representing are tired of executive overreach and the circumvention of the legislative process,” the congressman said. “It is a dangerous precedent to set when the President begins to rule by fiat and takes on the role that is specifically reserved for Congress. Today’s resolution addresses this issue and begins to set a standard to define what constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors.”

 

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