Does anyone care that Hilary Clinton's nomination for Secretary of State is unconstitutional?

The second clause of Article 1, Section 6, of the Constitution reads, "No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office."
emoluments - pay benefits etc.. pay for cabinet members has gone up while she has been a senator therefore she is ineligible for the position according to the constitution.

2008-12-01T11:50:18Z

If i am misreading this or don't have all the info please point me in the right direction.

2008-12-01T11:53:15Z

The wording from the constitution states "during the Time for which he/she was elected" since her term is not up she clearly falls into this even if she resigns.

2008-12-01T11:58:31Z

FYI Baker was already out of office when selected to be Cheif of Staff.
senator from 1967-1985, COS 87-88.

2008-12-01T12:07:04Z

I will also add that in the couple times this has happened the person taking the post simply took the pay that was in place when they were elected to congress. That doesn't mean it is constitutional. And I am sure that is not what the writers meant when they put it there in the first place.

2008-12-01T12:09:30Z

I will also add that I feel she would do a great job whether or not I like her. I think she has tons of experience, I don't feel like this is the "CHANGE" we have all heard about. My question is not poised at how good a job she will do but whether or not it is RIGHT.

Whatever42008-12-04T06:17:37Z

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It's in the news today. It's happened before, they do the "Saxbe Fix", legislation that rolls back the cabinet salary to where it was before she started serving. Never been tested by the Supremes, but it meets the intent of the framers that Congress couldn't invent positions or jack up the salary, then quit and fill them.

Anonymous2008-12-01T19:49:43Z

This is silly. All it means is she must resign her senate seat upon being approved by the senate. Senate minority leader Howard Baker of TN resigned his seat to become Reagan's final chief of staff and many sitting senators/congressmen have resigned to accept cabinet positions.

You're right about Baker. My error.

The wording "during the time" means the person may not hold two positions at once. Recent precedent is Congressman Dick Cheney of Wyoming resigning his seat to become Bush 41's Sec'y of Defense and Congressman Les Aspin doing the same for the same post in Clinton's first term.

The Desperation Brigade marches on.

Anonymous2008-12-01T19:49:38Z

It's not unconstitutional because she hasn't been appointed yet. She's been selected for nomination. She's not nominated and placed before the Senate until January. At that point, she will have already resigned from her Senate seat. So, it's fully within the rules for her to do so.

SEASTAR2008-12-01T20:05:35Z

I have not read the constitution. But, We all missing a point here. What is best for our Country at this time that we are on a recession as today December 1st, 2008. I am a Independent and My honest opinion if it counts. She will be a great choice as the new Secretary of State

Yazon2008-12-01T20:47:06Z

Yes! By the way, did you know that Hilary Clinton real middle name is Asis and that on 14356 occasions she voted for invasion of Atlantis?

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