Is the Super Congress Constitutional?

United States
August 3, 2011 9:10am CST
The question of course comes to mind, but what does it all mean to us as American citizens?
3 responses
• United States
4 Aug 11
This is just another way for individual Congressmen to avoid accountability. I can hear next year's election speeches: "I couldn't do anything about that (insert some cut or tax) because it was the 'Super Congress' that did it." If, however, the committee polishes a Bill to a point that the members are fairly sure it will pass both houses, then submit it to the House for introduction, it's no different than any other committee within the House itself presenting a Bill, and infinitely better than special interests submitting Bills through their favorite representative. It will be in that detail of implemetation that determines the ultimate Constitutionality of the "Super Congress". Still a bad idea in my opinion just given my earlier point about accountability.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
4 Aug 11
Agreed, it is just another example of Obama, Reid and Boehner wimping out of doing their jobs. There is nothing in the US Constitution that allows for the combining of the House and Senate in any form.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
5 Aug 11
ParaTed you are incorrect there are a good number of Joint Committees and that is what this is one is the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. They place bills and others into the system. The difference is that this committee places bills that can't be amended which means that it leaves both houses with a take it or leave it kind of choice which could make it simple either way.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
5 Aug 11
Which is completely unconstitutional and silences our voices in the House of Representatives. And just because there are already unconstitutional joint committees doesn't make this one right. You are defending those three thieves telling you to shut up.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
5 Aug 11
The power given to the House to control the power of the purse is being infringed because what the super Congress proposes can not be modified by the house. Congress needs to be careful that they don't give away too much of their power.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
4 Aug 11
NO!! There is no provision in the US Constitution for combining any part of the House and Senate. This "Super Congress" will be writing bills, debating and amending. Our Reps and Senators not on the committee will have no say in what goes in them or what is left out. That silences the voice of every American in a district not represented, as well as every state whose senators aren't on the committee. Furthermore, the US Constitution states that all bills that raise revenue must be originated in the House of Representatives.. which means no bill that raises revenue (this includes raising taxes) can originate in this unconstitutional committee. There is nothing Constitutional about it, and any House member or Senator that supports it is a liar.