119-hres603

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 603 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 603

Reaffirming the principles of the United States Constitution, including 
 separation of powers and the rule of law, and condemning efforts to 
 undermine the same.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 23, 2025

Mr. Garamendi (for himself, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. 
 Costa, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mrs. 
 McIver, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Norton, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Soto, 
 Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Veasey, and Mr. Mullin) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Reaffirming the principles of the United States Constitution, including 
 separation of powers and the rule of law, and condemning efforts to 
 undermine the same.

Whereas the United States of America is a constitutional republic, and the 
 Constitution has served as the supreme law of the land since its 
 adoption in 1789;
Whereas the Constitution of the United States created three branches of 
 government, the legislative, the executive, and judicial branch, 
 granting distinct powers to each to avoid consolidation of power in any 
 one;
Whereas Congress, as the first branch of government, has the constitutional duty 
 to declare war, regulate commerce, raise revenue, appropriate funds, and 
 conduct investigations and inquiries into the administration of law;
Whereas article I, 

section 9, clause 7 of the Constitution explicitly states 
 that ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of 
 Appropriations made by Law'';
Whereas James Madison, in Federalist No. 58, declared that ``this power over the 
 purse may, in fact, be regarded as the most complete and effectual 
 weapon with which any constitution can arm the immediate representatives 
 of the people'';
Whereas the President is not above the law;
Whereas the President has a duty to refrain from using the vast powers of the 
 executive branch, including the Department of Justice, to arbitrarily 
 prosecute or intimidate personal or political opponents;
Whereas a professional, nonpartisan civil service protected from political 
 purges and undue influence helps ensure that the Federal Government 
 functions for the people, not the personal or political interests of the 
 President;
Whereas governments that undermine the rule of law experience democratic 
 backsliding, capital flight, and other forms of economic and civil 
 instability;
Whereas article III of the Constitution of the United States vests the 
 ``judicial Power of the United States . . . in one supreme Court, and in 
 such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and 
 establish'';
Whereas the judiciary plays an essential role in ensuring that the executive 
 faithfully executes the laws and does not exceed its constitutional 
 authority;
Whereas orders issued by Federal judges are binding, and the Constitution of the 
 United States and established precedent require the executive branch to 
 comply with Federal court rulings;
Whereas, as recently affirmed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, ``for 
 more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not 
 an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial 
 decision'';
Whereas, as is inscribed on the Department of Justice headquarters, ``No free 
 government can survive that is not based on the supremacy of the law. 
 Where law ends, tyranny begins.'';
Whereas John Adams, in his Thoughts on Government, declared that ``the very 
 definition of a republic is `an empire of laws, and not of men''';
Whereas George Washington, in his Farewell Address, cautioned that ``cunning, 
 ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of 
 the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government'';
Whereas James Madison, in Federalist No. 47, warned that ``the accumulation of 
 all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands . . 
 . may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny'';
Whereas Thomas Jefferson said ``An elective despotism was not the government we 
 fought for; but one which should not only be founded on free principles, 
 but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced 
 among several bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their 
 legal limits, without being effectually checked and restrained by the 
 others.'';
Whereas in the words of James Madison ``ambition must be made to counteract 
 ambition'' between the three branches of government; and
Whereas the Presidency is a position of service, and Presidents swear an oath to 
 preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States: 
 Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) reaffirms the principles of the United States 
 Constitution, including the separation of powers, checks and 
 balances, the independence of the judiciary, and the power of 
 Congress to control spending, declare war, and conduct 
 oversight;

    (2) reaffirms the protections for individual rights 
 enshrined in the Constitution including due process of law;

    (3) condemns any efforts by public officials to undermine 
 congressional authority, violate or ignore court orders or 
 otherwise undermine the judiciary, the independence of 
 executive agencies or the impartial application of the rule of 
 law, or consolidate power in any single branch of government;

    (4) declares that appropriations made by Congress are law, 
 not mere recommendations, and condemns any attempt to withhold 
 or misdirect funds without congressional approval; and

    (5) urges all public officials, regardless of party, to 
 reject actions that seek to subvert congressional or judicial 
 authority or otherwise threaten the constitutional order.
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