US president also to seek constitutional amendment to limit immunity for presidents and various officeholders

Joe Biden will announce plans to reform the US supreme court on Monday, Politico reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, adding that the US president was likely to back term limits for justices and an enforceable code of ethics.

Biden said earlier this week during an Oval Office address that he would call for reform of the court.

He is also expected to seek a constitutional amendment to limit immunity for presidents and some other officeholders, Politico reported, in the aftermath of a July supreme court ruling that presidents have broad immunity from prosecution.

Biden will make the announcement in Texas on Monday and the specific proposals could change, the report added.

  • eran_morad@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Seems to me he’s using his last months in office to highlight issues that will damage the republican traitor filth as his VP campaigns to save the Republic.

  • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    But one of the first things Congress did in 1789, the year the new government got going, was to set up a federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court—with six Justices. source

    So get rid of 3 of them. Thomas. Alito. Roberts.

  • d00phy@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Need a new amendment enforcing federal retirement age on elected and appointed people. If you hit it during your term, you can’t run again. If you position is appointed, you have a year to step down.

    Also need a federal law correcting the recent bribery ruling, and applying it to ALL federal employees, political and non-political. Call it the Thomas Act.

    • Ænima@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Wouldn’t that be funny? Biden, in his last months in office, sets term limits on Congress that would have also booted him! That would be the most epic walking away while something explodes behind you kind of moment.

      • barsquid@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        It would be great but the President has no such power. Congress, a group of geriatric kleptocrats, aren’t going to legislate against themselves continuing to steal millions with insider trading.

      • Sarmyth@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Age discrimination is codified. Minimum president age is 35, senator is 30, and congressperson is 25. No reason for it but age discrimination. If we can’t put a ceiling they need to remove the floor.

      • Liz@midwest.social
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        2 months ago

        It’s my understanding that term limits actually end up making for a worse government, because then you end to with a higher fraction of people who are new at their job. Like any other high-skill job, it can take a year or more before you start to get good at what you’re supposed to be doing. Too many freshman means there’s less continuity and stability in the government.

        But this is all just a vague understanding, I haven’t read up on it intentionally.

        • untorquer@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Well without them you end up with highly skilled populous fascists instead of mediocre ones. So what we have too much of already. I’d rather have new ideas with an underskilled attempt to accomplish them than the status quo expertly shifting the overton window to the right. Some instability can be good when the alternative is a set of dynasties focused on their own benefit at the express detriment of others.

      • Valmond@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Yeah dude, electing some 30 yo who can just sit and wreck havoc for 60 years, where’s the logic behind that?

        • stoly@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I’ll be honest: I don’t know what you’re saying here. Can’t tell if you’re agreeing or disagreeing with me.

          • Valmond@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Term limits are more fair, basically. So I agree with you. Hence the “yeah” 😋

  • SirDerpy@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Joe Biden will announce plans to reform the US supreme court on Monday… the US president was likely to back term limits for justices and an enforceable code of ethics.

    The lack of term limits exists to allow judges to be impartial. The President should explain the ideology of how the checks and balances of government will be effected.

    US supreme court grabbing ‘ultimate power’, Biden reform adviser says

    Hypocrisy. For centuries power has been concentrated into the executive branch. A member of SCOTUS called for ethics enforcement. The executive responds by proposing to further concentrate power.

    He is also expected to seek a constitutional amendment to limit immunity for presidents and some other officeholders, Politico reported, in the aftermath of a July supreme court ruling that presidents have broad immunity from prosecution.

    The executive wishes to constitutionally codify that future Presidents cannot present and cover up as poorly as Trump. Once Biden flubbed his lines the situation was at risk of a repeat. If the masses believe it’s fucked then it’s very bad for corporate profits. Profit maximization now requires a means to remove a President.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      The lack of term limits exists to allow judges to be impartial

      Well THAT clearly doesn’t work!

      A member of SCOTUS called for ethics enforcement

      Nonsense. They unanimously approved NON-BINDING rules for themselves. That’s the OPPOSITE of enforcement.

      Did Harlan Crow put you up to this bullshit?

    • slickgoat@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Obviously term limits don’t ensure impartiality. Fixed limits introduce an element of damage control.

      • SirDerpy@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Obviously term limits don’t ensure impartiality.

        I agree. Note that my argument was that the lack of limits allows the possibility of impartial judgement.

        Fixed limits introduce an element of damage control.

        What’s the opportunity cost?

        • slickgoat@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I dunno, but 8 year limits means that every president will have an opportunity for a do over instead of entrenching a bias for decades.

      • SirDerpy@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        ELI5, How does no term limits allow for impartiality?

        ELI5 is for someone else to provide. I’ll instead give you the answer an adult deserves.

        There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right. - MLK Jr.

        Compare a SCOTUS justice to any legislator or the President: The legislators and President must act as their corporate donors wish or they’ll not be re-elected. But, the fundamental ideology of the US (and prerequisite to a world I wish to live in) mandates that the minority be protected from the majority and the majority from the mediocre outcomes of democracy.

        This role is never safe, politic, or popular. The lack of term limits allows SCOTUS justices to judge without these concerns. We hope they act for the People. But, we also risk of them acting as they do now.

        The system is broken. But, the proposed changes make it arguably much worse as they limit the ability for the system to self-recover in the future. They appear at best to be kicking the can to future generations (typical boomer shit).

        • loopedcandle@lemmynsfw.com
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          2 months ago

          Ok next question, because I think I interpreted the term differently than you did.

          There are two types of term limits right? Quantity of terms, and length of terms.

          Status quo: Q - one term, L - for life.

          Wouldn’t limiting the length but not the quantity maintain the incentive for impartiality? So there is no concept of a second term?

          I’m not trolling btw, I’m looking for an honest airing of the Q.

          • SirDerpy@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I’m not trolling btw, I’m looking for an honest airing of the Q.

            You’re not coming across that way. edit: meaning I’m perceiving good faith

            Wouldn’t limiting the length but not the quantity maintain the incentive for impartiality? So there is no concept of a second term?

            I’m not understanding how implementing a length limit but not a quantity limit would positively effect impartiality. That’s what currently exists for the entirety of legislature. They’re far from free to make their own choices.

            But, what if we had both a length limit and a term limit of one term? That seems a decent idea on the surface. But, I want to think about it for awhile before saying anything meaningful

            • loopedcandle@lemmynsfw.com
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              2 months ago

              For an Internet discussion, I really appreciate your open and honest exchange. Good day fellow Internet person.

              • SirDerpy@lemmy.world
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                2 months ago

                I read the academic paper I found. And, I’ve had a first conversation about this with another IRL.

                I still think length term limits on Justices is like many other good ideas: There’s no practical way to implement. All would result in severe collateral damage due to the nature and complexity of the systemic context. But, my reasoning is much more nuanced.

                Thank you. I appreciate that you pushed me along.