Does The "Recess Appointment Clause" Make Sense In An Age Of Planes, Trains, And Automobiles? (Congress, Obama)

[WhipperSnapper 88]

Let's please not make this a discussion about President Obama and the Supreme Court vacancy, that is not why I'm bringing it up, but with all this talk about Presidential appointments, it got me thinking about what I see as the antiquated Recess Appointment Clause. Article II, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution says:

"""The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."""

...but this was written when, getting from their home states to Washington, could take a Senator weeks or months, and also at a time before social media, telephones, and video conferencing made communications instantaneous....


Isn't it time to amend the Constitution and repeal the President's power to make recess appointments in an age where traveling across the country is a task of hours, not weeks, and in an age where communications can be sent from across the globe in an instant?

[Bleidd]

In the days the recess appointment clause was written, the US House and Senate were only meeting a few weeks a year. Now they are living in the area and are in session most of the year.

Recess appointments are now just an exacuse to avoid the advise and consent of the Senate, and appoint people by going around Congress.

[LetsRock]

The Senate will just stay in session until Barack is gone.

[Bulldogdad]

Good luck with that.