In early American history, the power of the U.S. President and Executive
Branch was viewed as constitutionally balanced by legislative and
judicial branches. As the Constitution stated, for example, Congress
had the power to "declare war" and the President was "Commander in
Chief" of the armed forces. Since the Constitution did not specify that
the President became Commander in Chief only AFTER war was declared, it
became evident the President could act independent of the people's
representatives in Congress in the manner of a dictatorship.
The President could even suspend the Constitution, impose martial law,
and effectively become an absolute ruler. During the Civil War,
President Abraham Lincoln assumed autocratic power to suspend the
Constitution's Bill of Rights and, backed by military force, curbed
riots against military induction. Articles 1 and 2 of the Constitution
granted presidential power to "preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution", and to see that the laws were "faithfully executed", and
it was on this implied authority that Lincoln acted.
During President Franklin D. Roosevelt's early years in office,
autocratic "executive orders" were used to prevent private depositors
from withdrawing their money from banks to save the institutions from
losses during an economic depression. With dictatorial power he also
suspended the constitution to imprison Americans of Japanese descent and
other foreigners during World War II, denying them fair trial.
With prompting by "national security advisers" who normally were
connected with "Secret Government" (see Grievance 2), various Presidents
issued and published in the Federal Register powers of a dictatorship
for possible future use;
1. Takeover of communications media.
2. Takeover of electric power, petroleum, gas, fuels and minerals.
3. Takeover of food resources and farms.
4. Takeover of all modes of transportation, highways, seaports, etc.
5. Mobilize civilians for work brigades.
6. Takeover of health, education and welfare functions.
7. Registration of all individuals by the Postmaster General.
8. Takeover of airports and aircraft.
9. Relocation of populations.
10. Takeover of railroads, inland waterways, and public storage facilities.
President Jimmy Carter combined such powers in Executive Order 12148,
under the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton issued a "Presidential Decision
Directive" that created an office of National Coordinator for Security,
Infrastructure and Counter-terrorism that was never clearly justified
constitutionally in view of Justice Department responsibilities of the
Judiciary Branch.
In the absence of specific constitutional prohibitions, Presidential
power was seldom questioned in Congress and rarely challenged at the
Supreme Court level.
With an Authentic Constitution in harmony with the natural Cosmic Laws
of the universe, and producing High Moral Values and Democratic Ideals,
government Principles, Powers, Practices and Penalties are in the hands
of all individuals equally, working collectively.
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