The G20 and the Big O

[Dedman]

Recently I got into a debate with a guy who thinks Obama should be impeached. When I asked him what crime the President had committe, he said his presidency of the G20 (I think he meant chairmanship but I could be wrong) violated Article 1, Section 9 of The Constitution. I don't see how that article and section applies to Obama's involvement in the G20.

What's your take on it?

[Cuda68]

While he is not who I voted for or even want, he is my president. I don't see where this claim even has merit.

[dissent]

I guess this is what he was referring to -

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: 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.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution ... l#section9

Does the chairmanship involve any pay? If not, then I'm not sure I see that there is any case to be made.

[Sergeant Thorne]

The question is does the G20 chairmanship fall under any of these categories (\"present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever\"), and, if so, has he had the consent of congress? I think that the Nobel Peace Prize falls under at least one of these categories, actually.

[fliptw]

the chair rotates between countries, IIRC, rather than individuals.

[flip]

Loophole: The ability to twist and distort a law beyond its original intent. Won't find that one on wikipedia. It's a form of flattery and if our president is dumb enough to fall for it, I say you get what you asked for.

[woodchip]

I would be more concerned about the hiring of Czars. While Czars are OK as long as all they do is advise the president, it is not constitutional to grant them any power...as Obama is doing ( as well perhaps other presidents have done } The granting of power to unvetted persons with no approval by the senate or congress may be in fact a impeachable offense.

[flip]

I'm just gonna start calling Obama, Shambo.

[Lothar]

The question is does the G20 chairmanship fall under any of these categories ("present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever")

More importantly: was it accepted from a "king, prince, or foreign state"?

The G20 doesn't qualify as any of those, and neither does the Nobel committee. The President can hold all manner of titles from all sorts of organizations (such as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year", as W held in 2004) as long as the organizations are not foreign governments.