Recent actions by President Donald Trump have sparked major concern about whether the United States democratic republic is under siege. Most specifically, the president’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 has sparked chatter about the balance of power between the three branches of government.
Is the country in a constitutional crisis? Or is it time for the centuries-old document to be updated?
Well, The Shade Room’s correspondent A.B. Burns-Tucker is joining in on the conversation on ‘TSR Newz.’
Is America In A Constitutional Crisis?
According to Burns-Tucker, the U.S. was founded on principles intended to uphold the virtue of liberty. More specifically, a system called checks and balances was enacted to ensure each branch of government (executive, judicial, and legislative) could effectively operate while maintaining the public interest and a balance of power. However, recent actions by Trump have called these principles into question.
Per Burns-Tucker, his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 has prompted questions about the balance of power given to the executive branch. To note, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is a “wartime authority that allows the president to detain or deport the natives and citizens of an enemy nation,” per the Brennan Center.
“Trump used this law for the first time since World War II to target individuals allegedly linked to a Venezuelan gang as part of what this administration calls ‘a mandate by the American people to crack down on immigration in this country,'” the host explained.
Despite this, a federal judge reportedly ruled against Trump’s invocation of the order, questioning its legality.
More On Donald Trump’s Executive Power & The Future Of Democracy
According to Burns-Tucker, it remains unclear “whether the Trump administration complied with that order or defied it.” Regardless, the host says, Trump reacted by reportedly calling for the judge to be impeached.
Scroll above to watch as Burns-Tucker breaks down how the situation unraveled. Additionally, she shares how Trump’s apparent interpretation of unitary executive theory “seeks to centralize greater control of the White House.” Ultimately, the host breaks down how else Trump’s reported actions are “challenging constitutional norms.” Lastly, the host explains why Thomas Jefferson argued that the Constitution should be updated over time.
