Unable : the law, politics, and limits of Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment / Brian C. Kalt.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kalt, Brian C., 1972- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Constitution--25th Amendment.

United States.

Presidents--Disability.

Constitution (United States).

Presidents--Disability--United States.

Presidents.

Presidents--Succession--United States.

Presidents--Succession.

Physical Description:

viii, 213 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2019]

Summary:

Since the election of President Donald Trump, the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution - covering presidential incapacity - has been a frequent topic of public discussion. But few understand how this amendment really works. Unable : The Law, Politics, and Limits of Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment explains, in Part I, the basics of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, especially Section 4, correcting common misconceptions, and resolving some of its ambiguities. Part II explores history: presidential disability before Section 4; the creation of Section 4 in 1965; the (non)use of Section 4 since then; and Section 4's portrayal in movies, books, and television. Part III presents a series of hypothetical scenarios that dramatize how Section 4 would work - or not work - in a wide variety of situations. Part IV concludes with some thoughts on how Section 4 interacts with constitutional law more generally, and some suggestions on how to improve Section 4's operation. Unable is designed to educate and inform the public about Section 4 and the Twenty-Fifth Amendment in an even-handed and accessible way, allowing readers to judge for themselves whether presidents - past and present - were or are fit to serve in office.

Contents:

I. How Section 4 works

Section 4 basics

Correcting a few misconceptions

Trickier questions

II. History : fact and fiction

Presidential disability before Section 4

Section 4 : creation, evolution, and approval

Presidential inability since 1967

Section 4 in fiction

III. Section 4 in "practice"

Section 4's simple core

Tough calls

The four-day wait

Other questions

Don't just sit there, do something!

IV. Section 4 in theory

Section 4 and constitutional law

Improving Section 4.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780190083199

0190083190

9780190083229

0190083220

9780190083205

0190083204

9780190083212

0190083212

OCLC:

1099543411