An Unconstitutional Nobel

Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution, the emolument clause, stipulates: "And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State."

Ronald D. Rotunda is distinguished professor of jurisprudence at Chapman University Law School. J. Peter Pham is senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The two argue in the Washington Post that it is unconstitutional for the President to accept a foreign award, especially one meant to influence American policy without the consent of Congress. They argue that this Nobel is actually the second emolument accepted by Obama without approval if you include the collar accepted from the Saudi King that Obama made sure to bow before. If the Constitution requires a mere Congressional rubber-stamp from the Democratic Congress then it is imperative that the President be loyal to our founding document.

Not to mention the fact that a Congressional debate on the merits of the award would be priceless.

To read the article visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101502277.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns Tweet