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| Thread ID: 82754 | 2007-09-06 19:57:00 | Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act | SurferJoe46 (51) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 588618 | 2007-09-06 19:57:00 | This WILL impact NZ and other countries too. The US Constitution is at stake here..but with the Homeland Security Acr overriding the Bill of Rights, this MIGHT be a moot argument and just a passive attack on the citizens of the US..and later on, even NZ... Links: ;) (news.wired.com) :groan: (arstechnica.com)Older post since modified by the first link |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 588619 | 2007-09-06 20:08:00 | Good to see that there are judges willing to protect basic human rights in the USA. | somebody (208) | ||
| 588620 | 2007-09-06 22:15:00 | Good to see that there are judges willing to protect basic human rights in the USA. Actually, for all that I despise US foreign policy, their judiciary has a long and proud history of protecting basic human rights. I hope they do not overturn Roe v Wade though - as there have been talks of the current Supreme Court revisiting this decision. |
Deane F (8204) | ||
| 588621 | 2007-09-07 01:08:00 | We are quite lucky we dont have a constitution here. The problem with a constitution is items in it become stupid after time. Thank christ the usa has some NON neo conservative judges who can still make good calls. If NZ does get a constitution I hope they put the right to bear arms in it but not including machine guns over 50 cal and no rocket launchers. tedheath |
tedheath (537) | ||
| 588622 | 2007-09-07 06:31:00 | On the contrary, I think we need a constitution - this would prevent useless legislation like the new electoral spending bill getting rammed through. Just please don't let the current govt anywhere near it during the drafting stage :groan:. | Erayd (23) | ||
| 588623 | 2007-09-07 11:59:00 | New Zealand has a constitution. We are actually a constitutional monarchy. Our constitution consists of several very strong conventions and a number of laws - as well as a body of common law made up of judicial decisions. The US Constitution is entrenched in their law - which means that their judges can overturn laws that are not constitutional. It is important to be clear about this point - in the US, judges can actually overturn the laws themselves - not just government actions. In New Zealand, parliament is the supreme law-making body. |
Deane F (8204) | ||
| 588624 | 2007-09-07 12:08:00 | The US Constitution is entrenched in their law - which means that their judges can overturn laws that are not constitutional. It is important to be clear about this point - in the US, judges can actually overturn the laws themselves - not just government actions.Which is exactly why we need a constitution rather than a set of strong conventions and a number of laws. | Erayd (23) | ||
| 588625 | 2007-09-07 19:48:00 | Which is exactly why we need a constitution rather than a set of strong conventions and a number of laws . This is a fair view - but to me it misses the point . There is a lot of strength in an unwritten constitution . Also, it is far too easy to politicise a judiciary and this has always happened with the political method of appointing Supreme Court judges in the US . Presidents get to affect the political makeup of the Supreme Court and this affects the Courts decisions long after the President relinquishes office . Many aspects of the US Constitution which were entirely appropriate for their times are causing a lot of trouble now . Just take the Second Amendment for an example - the one that allows their current woeful gun laws . And it is extremely difficult to alter the US Constitution no matter how much trouble it's causing . |
Deane F (8204) | ||
| 588626 | 2007-09-07 20:50:00 | Many aspects of the US Constitution which were entirely appropriate for their times are causing a lot of trouble now. Just take the Second Amendment for an example - the one that allows their current woeful gun laws. And it is extremely difficult to alter the US Constitution no matter how much trouble it's causing. And don't expect any of it's "protections" to apply to you if you're not a citizen. |
PaulD (232) | ||
| 588627 | 2007-09-07 22:08:00 | This is a fair view - but to me it misses the point . There is a lot of strength in an unwritten constitution . Also, it is far too easy to politicise a judiciary and this has always happened with the political method of appointing Supreme Court judges in the US . Presidents get to affect the political makeup of the Supreme Court and this affects the Courts decisions long after the President relinquishes office . Many aspects of the US Constitution which were entirely appropriate for their times are causing a lot of trouble now . Just take the Second Amendment for an example - the one that allows their current woeful gun laws . And it is extremely difficult to alter the US Constitution no matter how much trouble it's causing . The red part above (^) isn't exactly as you perceive . Yes . . a president can slightly sway a Supreme Court . . but not very easily and usually NOT in his own reign . What happens is that since these judges are appointed for life or until they resign, is that there is no real turnover in judges unless one dies while a president that is sitting wants to perhaps make it hard for a qualified judge to get appointed . There is a lot of good ol' boy-ism in the ranks . . but really it's not a president who shapes the Supreme Court very much at all . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
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