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11/11/2016

AreThereLimitstoTrumpsPower?TheNewYorkTimes

AreThereLimitstoTrumpsPower?
ByERICPOSNER

NOV.10,2016

DonaldJ.TrumpDamonWinter/TheNewYorkTimes

WhenDonaldJ.TrumptakesofficeonJan.20,hewillhaveimmensebut
notunlimitedpowerathisdisposal.BackinJune,Iwrotethathecould
evenwithoutcongressionalconsentexecutemuchofhisvision.Hecould,
forexample,shiftenforcementprioritiesagainstunauthorizedimmigrants,
probablybarMuslimsfromenteringthecountry,raisetariffs,withdraw
forcesfromtheMiddleEast,andtearuptradetreatiesandmilitary
alliances.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/opinion/aretherelimitstotrumpspower.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

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11/11/2016

AreThereLimitstoTrumpsPower?TheNewYorkTimes

Buttherewerelimits:Hecouldnotbuildaborderwallwithouta
congressionalappropriation,imposethedeathpenaltyonkillersofpolice
officers,orstrengthenlibellawssothathecouldsuenewspapersthat
criticizedhim.
Thatwasthen.BecauseMr.TrumpenjoysRepublicanmajoritiesinboth
housesofCongress,hispowerisevengreater.IfhecangetRepublican
membersofCongresstogoalongwithhim,hecandoprettymuchanything
notbannedbytheConstitution.HecanrepealObamacare,cuttaxesand
buildhisborderwall.Butlimitsremain.
OnebarrieristhefilibusterintheSenate.Sincetheycomposenearlya
majorityoftheSenate,Democratscanusethefilibustertoblocklegislation
theyoppose.UnfortunatelyforDemocrats,however,thefilibusterisnotas
powerfulasitoncewas.In2013,SenateDemocratseliminatedthefilibuster
forfederalappointmentsexceptSupremeCourtjusticesinaneffortto
stopwhattheysawasobstructionismbytheRepublicanminority,who
repeatedlyblockedPresidentObamasnominations.
Youllregretthis,theSenateRepublicanleaderMitchMcConnellwarned
theDemocrats.Hewasright.DemocratsnowcantstopTrumpfrom
appointinganyoneacceptabletoRepublicansenators.Andcitingthis
precedent,RepublicansenatorsmayeliminatethefilibusterforSupreme
Courtjusticesaswell,givingMr.Trumpanearlyfreehandtoappoint
whomhewants.
Anotherbarrieristhecourts.PresidentObamahasappointedhundredsof
federaljudgesoverhistwoterms,andhundredsofothersincluding
Republicanappointeeswillviewwithskepticismsometypesofunilateral
executiveactionthatMr.Trumphaspromised.Itwouldnotbesurprisingif
judgesblockedoratleastslowedanaggressiveroundupofunauthorized
immigrants(thoughtheydidnotstopPresidentGeorgeW.Bushsroundup
ofMuslimsandArabsafterSept.11).WhilethelawgivesMr.Trumppower
towithdrawregulationsandrefusetoenforcethem,courtsthatdistrusthis
methodsormotivesmaycreateproceduralstumblingblocks,justasthey

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11/11/2016

AreThereLimitstoTrumpsPower?TheNewYorkTimes

didtoPresidentObamasplantograntworkpermitsandotherprivilegesto
agroupofunauthorizedimmigrants.
Butthecourts,too,possessonlylimited

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powers.Theytypicallyrefrainfrom

engagesinmilitaryoperationsand

interferingwiththepresidentwhenhe

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diplomacy.Itishardtoimaginethem

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Trumpwillbeabletoplacehispeoplein
thejudiciary,andTrumpianjudgeswill
seethingshisway.Historyshowsthata
presidentcanusuallydependonhis
SupremeCourtappointee(orappointees)
tosupporthimifheischallenged.
ThegreatestconstraintonMr.Trump
maybethefederalbureaucracy.Ifhe

PRIVACYPOLICY

directstheF.B.I.,I.R.S.orDepartmentof
HomelandSecuritytoharasshispolitical

opponents,civilservantswillprobablynotcooperateindeed,theymay
blowthewhistle.PresidentBushfacedthreatsofresignationbyJustice
Departmentofficialsoverhissurveillanceprogramandleaksabouthis
policyofcoerciveinterrogation.Mr.Obamahadtoputupwithdamaging
leaksfromfederalemployeesandcontractorswhoopposedhissurveillance
programs.
Butmanyinthebureaucracyinthemilitaryandatimmigrationagencies
inparticularsupportMr.Trumpandmayfollowhispolicies
enthusiastically.Andbecausehisagendaismostlyderegulatory,he
possessesmostofthecards.Hecandelayorblocknewfinancial,
environmentalandworkplacesafetyregulationswithoutthecooperationof
agencyofficialshecanprobablyblockenforcementofthemaslongasheis

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11/11/2016

AreThereLimitstoTrumpsPower?TheNewYorkTimes

abletoappointloyaliststoleadershippositions.
ThenewsmediawillalsoplayaroleinconstrainingMr.Trump.Histhreats
tostrengthenlibellawsareidle.TheFirstAmendmentprotectsthemedia,
andtodayunlikeinthepastthatamendmentisadarlingofRepublican
jurists.ButthemediacanconstrainMr.Trumponlytotheextentthatitcan
rousepublicopinionagainsthimandhispolicies.Thismayinvolveshowing
sensitivitytoMiddleAmericansensibilitiesthatithasnotalways
demonstrated.
Intheend,thesuccessofMr.TrumpsadministrationdependsonMr.
Trumphimself.Ifheshowsselfdiscipline,whichwasconspicuouslylacking
duringthecampaign,andhewstorelativelymoderatecenterrightpolicies,
hemaybeabletoaccomplishagreatdeal(forgoodorill).Ifheinsultslarge
groupsofAmericans,useshispowerstounleashvendettasagainsthis
opponents,placespoliticalhacksinthebureaucracy,andbetraysallies,he
willfail.Itshischoice.

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