Title: I Want to Declare an Emergency
Original CoS Document (slug): i-want-to-declare-an-emergency
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Created: 2022-09-12 20:30:37
Updated: 2024-07-16 04:35:39
Published: 2023-07-07 01:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T21:19:28.960179021
“I want to declare an emergency because Congress will not do what I want.” Emergencies are what administrators declare when they want to justify extraordinary expenditures not in the budget. From city officials, to state and federal administrators, they all subvert the budget process by declaring an emergency. A declared emergency allows governments to spend more or reallocate approved budget line items – all without any oversight. Presidents have declared emergencies many times – all for the purposes to either re-direct budgetary monies or to create new expenditures. Presidents are not dictators and must conform to the will of Congress and the people.
There are true emergencies and we must not shut down the ability to declare an emergency, but frivolously declared emergencies do nothing but allow government officials to by-pass the will of Congress and the people. It is not that Congress could meet and pass a bill that would justify an emergency expenditure. We passed a resolution to declare war on Japan one day after Pearl Harbor. With today’s modern communication technology, Congress could be convened within a few days to pass legislation approving a President’s desire to make extraordinary expenditures. There are few real “emergencies” that have to have an instantaneous response. In those cases, the President could declare an emergency. There was no emergency necessary to respond to COVID-19. The draconian measures implemented were arbitrary, capricious, and declared by an administration that lacked adequate information or had alternative motives.
A Convention of States should address the status of emergency declarations. A definition of “emergency” should be established. Congress should approve all “emergency” expenditures, thus negating the “I have a phone and I have a pen” mentality. Not only do politicians get to spend money as they see fit, they get extraordinary executive power and privilege
The administrative state can define rules without regard to the people’s input. When input is solicited, the administrative state can disregard that input on the basis of a “We know what is good for you” premise. Administrative edicts need to be curtailed awaiting approval of Congress (meaning the people). No emergency here.
Most of the time we need deliberation to discuss the pros and cons of a recommended action – before that action is implemented. The only bodies that are capable of public deliberation are congress and the American people. The only exception to that rule is when there is a true emergency.