A Clear Violation of the Constitution by the Progressive Socialists That Rule the House of Representatives

by

       M. Richard Maxson

     The House of Representatives, under the direction of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. on Friday passed a bill which is a clear violation of Article 1 of the Constitution . Backed ONLY by the majority of Democrats in a 217-189 vote they passed a rule allowing for proxy voting and remote committee meetings to guard against the spread of the coronavirus. Under this new House rule House members now no longer have to travel to Washington to cast votes. We can vote from the comfort of their air-conditioned living rooms and avoid any questions from reporters or constituents. House rules have never permitted proxy voting on legislation taken up by the entire body. Proxy voting on House committee action was once allowed, but lawmakers banned it in 1995.

     The vote Friday night was unprecedented in our nation’s history and a mockery and a disgrace for members who voted to affirm Pelosi’s remote and proxy voting system. Article 1, Section Five of the Constitution states that a majority of each House constitutes a quorum to do business; a smaller number may adjourn the House or compel the attendance of absent members. This is a clear violation of Article 1 and is therefore, according to our Founding Fathers – illegal!

      Thomas Jefferson stated, “When the federal government “assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.”

      James Madison, known as the “Father of the Constitution.” asserted that the states were “duty bound, to interpose” whenever the federal government assumed “a deliberate, palpable and dangerous exercise” of powers not granted by the Constitution. He also warned against the transformation of “the republican system of the United States into a monarchy.”

      Republicans panned the move as an "unconstitutional power grab" to undo more than 230 years of House tradition.

     "Our Founders would be ashamed that we aren’t assembling,"House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy said.

 

        House Minority Whip Steve Scalise explained. "It's unconstitutional, first of all, because a quorum under this resolution they just passed – 20 people on the floor – 20 Democrats can constitute a quorum of the House of Representatives, 435 people. That goes against Article 1 of the Constitution.”

      "House Democrats are risking damage to our constitutional republic by adopting a proxy voting scheme along partisan lines. Our founders intended that Congress convene and deliberate. The Constitution requires a majority of members be present to constitute a quorum to conduct business.” - Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney

      Clause 1, Section 5, states that a majority of each House constitutes a quorum to do business; a smaller number may adjourn the House or compel the attendance of absent members. Under the new legislation that was passed they can vote by proxy. Only a small number of House members are required to be in the chamber for future votes, and each member can be armed with proxies from other members who decided against traveling to our nation’s capital to cast their own votes. The plan would allow any House member who was physically present to cast a proxy vote for up to 10 others. It would also allow House members and witnesses to join committee proceedings from home for 45 days. Those provisions are set to expire at the end of the term in January, but can be modified until then as necessary.

      Article I, Section 5, Clause 4 - Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. Neither House may meet in any place other than that designated for both Houses (the Capitol), without the consent of the other. The Senate has NOT given consent.

      Americans should be outraged and frightened by this unprecedented rule change. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has given herself more control over the House than any previous speaker in American history. It has become abundantly clear that she and her minions have set her up to be a twenty-first century monarch. Queen Nancy and her subjects are doing everything in their power to disrupt the business of the United States using any means at their disposal to undermine the country in a political power grab. Wrapping themselves up in red, white, and blue and titling their legislation with so-called patriotic slogans such as this one, the “Hero Act,” they are systematically destroying the United States, its’ Constitution, and its’ citizens. The question is, are we witnessing the beginning of the end of the United States of America?