The Supreme Court issued a unanimous rebuke to President Barack Obama on June 26 regarding his recess appointments of the Senate.
According to the New York Times, the rebuke said Obama violated the Constitution in 2012 by making appointments to the National Labor Relations Board during a break when the board only met every three days and was not conducting business.
Justice Stephen G. Breyer said in a majority opinion that those breaks were too short to make the appointments stay in place. Breyer said recess appointments are usually accepted during breaks of 10 or more days.
The Washington Post reported the court’s decision was made during a time when many Republicans are opposed to the president’s policies, and Obama intends to bypass a Congress that would expand his executive power.
This incident would cause immediate ruling consequences, but a bigger constitutional question is how to balance the power between the president and the Senate.
Photo: flickr/Mark Fischer
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