Cheney not in executive branch...

[IllustriousPotentate]

...says Cheney.

WASHINGTON -- Dick Cheney, who has wielded extraordinary executive power as he transformed the image of the vice presidency, is asserting that his office is not actually part of the executive branch.

In a simmering dispute with the National Archives that heated up Thursday, Cheney has long maintained that he does not have to comply with an executive order on safeguarding classified information because, in fact, his office is part of the legislature.

from the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Your thoughts?

[Twiligh]

Holy crap, we are so screwed. Next he will be burning the Declaration of independence.

[UWDarDar17]

Well, if he said he's part of the executive branch and part of the legislature...that means he's still part of the executive branch. I don't see where he's coming from. I mean, Article II, Section I is pretty clear.

[Tri-Nitro-Toluene]

At 6/23/07 09:48 AM, Tal-con wrote: He didn't say that, he said his position is unique because he's part of the executive and legislative branch at the same time.

Isn't that kind of opposite to the idea of separation of powers, and as such...unconstitutional?

[ForkRobotik]

At 6/23/07 12:58 PM, Tri-Nitro-Toluene wrote: Isn't that kind of opposite to the idea of separation of powers, and as such...unconstitutional?

No because the constitution is just an outdated piece of paper...

[HighlyIllogical]

Cheney is responsible to the executive branch rules as well as the legislative ones.

He's just being a typical Dick.

[Memorize]

At 6/23/07 12:58 PM, Tri-Nitro-Toluene wrote:

Isn't that kind of opposite to the idea of separation of powers, and as such...unconstitutional?

Vice President = Executive Branch

Vice Presicent is also known as the President of the Senate, and is capable of making a tie-breaking vote, therefore also being: Legislative.

The only difference now than back then was that the President and Vice President used to be voted for seperately.

[HighlyIllogical]

Then, generally speaking, the Veep would be a member of the executive branch, and unless he's involved in actions that relate to his power as President of the Senate, he is subject to the rules of the executive branch, I would think.

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 6/23/07 03:37 PM, HighlyIllogical wrote: Then, generally speaking, the Veep would be a member of the executive branch, and unless he's involved in actions that relate to his power as President of the Senate, he is subject to the rules of the executive branch, I would think.

Why would that be then? What duties does he discharge under the executive branch? He doesn't serve at the pleasure of the President, he is not required to do anything a President says beyond what the President could tell anybody to do.

[Tri-Nitro-Toluene]

At 6/23/07 03:27 PM, Tal-con wrote: No, the constitution states the Vice President has the authority to make the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. It's been that way since America was founded.

Still seems contrary to the idea of separation of powers.

[UWDarDar17]

At 6/23/07 03:51 PM, IllustriousPotentate wrote: Why would that be then? What duties does he discharge under the executive branch? He doesn't serve at the pleasure of the President, he is not required to do anything a President says beyond what the President could tell anybody to do.

While this is somewhat true, the President does do things within the Executive branch, which have been developed by different vice presidents and presidents over the years. Since the FDR administration, VPs have been invited to cabinet meetings, and during the Eisenhower administration and since, the VP has presided over cabinet meetings in the President's absence.

The VP assists in drafting and speaking for administration policy, is the head of NASA, and is an adviser to the president. Each adminisration differs in the role the Vice President has. Some are vested with more responsibility than others. Cheney, for example, is one of GWB's closest advisors, and certainly has more responsibilities given to him than previous VPs.

The role of President of the Senate is mostly ceremonial, as he does not actually "preside"- in fact, that role is given usually to freshmen senators, as it is a good way of learning the procedure of the Senate. The VP has only acted as the tie-breaking vote 242 times in America's history.

The VP is far less a member of the Legislative branch than the Executive branch.