Anglais, what can you say about the references to the Constitution?

Anglais

I. Complete the following sentences, adding between 10 and 25 words. You may only write one sentence. (20 points)

1. Pursuant to the three-fifths compromise wanted to limit the demographic weight provided by numerous slaves in some States, which tried to get more influence at Congress

2. Article I, Section 8 details the powers held by Congress and gives an extensive approach to the rights granted to United States’ legislative branch

3. Unless a candidate obtains 270 votes, he cannot be elected President of the USA

4. Until the United States became independent, they were a colony of United Kingdom having no tax autonomy.

5. Even if the President vetoes a bill, he has to justify his choice

II. Read the following document and

1. In the second paragraph of the article (i.e. “As a candidate….enforcement discretion”), what can you say about the references to the Constitution?

The Constitution remains the most important element in United States’ checks & balance system, making it efficient that, following Montesquieu’s statements, the power has to tame the power. We therefore notice in article VIII that Congress is given enormous budget and legislative powers, that the President has to respect and to enforce. A constant and patient compromise is therefore to be built between The White House and Capitole Hill, as the legislative and executive branches have to negotiate when 1787 Constitution remains mute on some various points. Political theory matters, but not as much as political practise on a day-to-day basis. We discover that Pdt. Obama took a major advantage to fly in the face of Congress on issues such as dreamers legal status, using his overwhelming popularity, rather than a cautious respect of Constitution and Separation of powers.

2. Why does the author think that the role of Congress could increase during the Trump presidency?

The role of Congress could increase during the Trump presidency as it could consider at last that the constant reduction of its influence and powers has now to be stopped since Donald Trump may be regarded as an incoherent person. The President’s martial and colloquial attitude may raise a growing suspicion from Congress, that could become reluctant to see any additional reduction of its influence on legislative works. A another reason is attached to the previous President’s too lazy practice of Checks & balances, as Congress was often bypassed by Pdt Obama, and lost many of its showdowns engaged with the White House. As the President is now far less popular than his predecessor, we may expect that Congress will be less shy to contest executive initiatives and to reconsider some previous decisions that would have been regarded as unconstitutional if taken by Pdt. Trump himself.  

3. Why according to the author was the 2015 Iran agreement unconstitutional?

For diplomatic and efficiency reasons, the Iran agreement was not regarded as a treaty. Signed by different nations a few years ago to organize better relations with Teheran, threatened by its nuclear program, this agreement is now described as so complex that it should have been first submitted to political debates and official hearings at Congress. The diplomatic proceedings and Obama’s disdain for Congress works, time-consuming debates in committees and sub-committees, « navette » between the House and the Senate, making it now clear that the text was first submitted to the United Nations, without any consent of Congress. This could be regarded as a major breach in the separation of powers, as Congress was not given any occasion to amend the text and to ratificate it – or to reject it – on the basis of a two third supermajority. Let’s just keep in mind that the Versailles’ Treaty of 1919 was not ratified by Congress, putting Pdt Wilson on a dire strait for the rest of his Presidency.  

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