Tag: Constitution

theatlantic: Yes, Congress Can Authorize War Without Formally ‘Declaring’ It Contemporary Americans almost never read the Constitution. Instead, we seize on individual magic-sounding words (“declare war,” “natural born,” “keep and bear,” etc.). I’ve spent the last three years studying the text, and it seems to me that, even in a crisis, we might want to read the words with the care we’d bring to, say, the instructions for assembling an Ikea wardrobe. Read more. [Image: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

Hungary Tests the E.U.’s Norms A fresh constitutional amendment has provoked alarms within Europe and elsewhere over the balance of the Hungarian government.

BBC News: Hungary defies critics over change to constitution  Hungary’s parliament has adopted a package of constitutional changes proposed by the ruling Fidesz party which critics say undermine democracy. The EU expressed concern about the bill, which defies some court rulings. “These amendments raise concerns with respect to the principle of the rule of law, EU law and Council of Europe standards,” a statement by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said.