There's this...
14th Amendment Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.......and this...
At the start of each new U.S. Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year, newly elected or re-elected Members of Congress – the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate – must recite an oath:...and this!I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.
The oath of office of the President of the United States is an oath or affirmation required by the United States Constitution before the President begins the execution of the office. The wording is specified in Article Two, Section One, Clause Eight:Would someone please explain to me just how the debt limit law is legal in the first place? If it is constitutional, just how could congressmen refuse to raise the debt limit without violating their oaths of office?Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:— “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
And if congress violates the Constitution by refusing to raise the debt limit, doesn't the president's oath of office require him to raise it unilaterally?
Seriously, what's up with this?
Section 8 of the Constitution specifically grants congress the power to:
The Congress shall have power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common defence[note 1] and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;When the 14th Amendment is wedded to this, it seems to indicate the absolute responsibility of congress to pay its own debts with no wiggle room whatsoever.To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
....
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures...
This seems to support my position, that refusing to raise the debt limit is a violation of the congressional oath of office. This event would require - I think - the president to unilaterally raise the debt limit himself. If he didn't, then he'd be in violation of his oath of office.
Am I right? Am I wrong? Am I missing something here?
UPDATE I'd like to add that even if my scenario played out, it could be a giant mess. The stock market would sag, we might be thrown into a constitutional crisis, and we could have a recession on top of everything else. The president's unilateral action might mitigate some of the damage internationally...or not. It's an unknown. The Republicans are so committed to the Constitution, they go around waving copies of it at everyone. Yet they are the ones trying their best to break it.