Justice Department Supports Native Americans In Child Welfare Case
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The Texas governor Rick Perry has been indicted for surpassing his authority by threatening to veto, and actually doing so, about $7.5 million for the funding of the District Attorney’s Office. In the spring of 2013, the Travis county District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested for drunk driving. Because of this incident, Governor Perry threatened to veto the $7.5 million funding to the District Attorney’s Office unless Lehmberg resigned. Perry indeed vetoed the funding when Lehmberg refused to resign. The governor can veto whatever he wants, but the illegal part of his exercise of power was the threat.
Governor Rick Perry’s action embodies two of the six basic principles of the United States constitution—limited government and checks & balances. This case demonstrates limited government because although the governor has the power to veto the funding, his power is limited to the point where it becomes illegal for him to threat an elected official to get what he wanted. This event also demonstrates checks and balances because Perry’s indictment is the judicial branch’s way to make sure that Perry didn’t exceed his power. The court will review the case to determine whether or not Perry exceeded his power by threatening Lehmberg. Works Cited Goodwyn, Wade. "Rick Perry's Legal Trouble: The Line Between Influence And Coercion." NPR. NPR, 30 Aug. 2014. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/2014/08/30/344436775/rick-perrys-legal-trouble-the-line-between-influence-and-coercion>. Langford, Terry. "A Week After Perry's Indictment, Legal Case Begins, by Terri Langford." The Texas Tribune. N.p., 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. <http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/22/week-after-perrys-indicted-legal-case-begins/>. Neuman, Scott. "What's Behind Those Abuse-Of-Power Charges Against Perry?" NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/16/340882519/whats-behind-those-abuse-of-power-charges-against-perry>. "Perry Begins Defense on Felony Indictment | News Radio 1200 WOAI." News Radio 1200 WOAI. N.p., 16 Aug. 2014. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. <http://www.woai.com/articles/woai-local-news-sponsored-by-five-star-cleaners-119078/perry-begins-defense-on-felony-indictment-12676446/>. Federalism and Texas
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