ThinkTankWeekly

The 25 th Amendment Is an Unlikely and Inapt Solution

CATO | 2026-04-12 | americas

Topics: Middle East, United States, Americas

Visit original source

ThinkTankWeekly provides a curated entry and summary only. Full text and PDF remain on the publisher's website.

English Summary

The article argues that invoking the 25th Amendment to remove a president due to poor judgment or rhetoric is an unapt, antidemocratic, and politically difficult solution. Instead of relying on this constitutional backstop, the author suggests Congress should utilize its existing legislative powers to constrain a rogue executive. Policy strategies should focus on strengthening the Senate's role in vetting nominations, leveraging the House's impeachment power, and using annual funding bills to limit executive overreach. Ultimately, the piece warns that the true policy failure is Congress's continued tendency to delegate too much power to the executive branch.

中文摘要

本文論述,援引《憲法第二十五修正案》來因總統的判斷力或言辭不當而罷免,是一個不適當、反民主且政治上極為困難的解決方案。作者建議,而非依賴這項憲法後備機制,國會應利用其現有的立法權力來制衡行為失當的行政部門。政策策略應著重於強化參議院在審查提名人選中的作用、發揮眾議院的彈劾權,以及利用年度預算法案來限制行政部門的權力過度擴張。最終,本文警告指出,真正的政策失誤在於國會持續傾向將過多的權力委予行政部門。

Related Entries

  1. 1.
    2026-07-13 | china_indopacific | 2026-W29 | Topics: China, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Nuclear, Russia, Taiwan, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.

    Read at Brookings

  2. 2.
    2026-07-13 | defense | 2026-W29 | Topics: Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Nuclear, Russia

    The Chatham House analysis concludes that the UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will be viewed by NATO allies as a mixed bag, primarily due to its failure to commit to higher GDP spending targets. However, the plan signals critical strategic improvements by emphasizing novel technologies—such as autonomous systems and digital infrastructure—and enhancing readiness. Crucially, the DIP adopts an international focus through major collaborative programs (e.g., AUKUS, GCAP) and establishes a new National Armaments Director Group (NADG). This structural shift toward flexible, portfolio-based collaboration is strategically valuable for NATO allies seeking reliable partners as US conventional forces reduce their European presence.

    Read at Chatham House

  3. 3.
    2026-07-13 | defense | 2026-W29 | Topics: China, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Russia, Ukraine, United States

    The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.

    Read at CFR

  4. 4.
    2026-07-13 | health | 2026-W29 | Topics: United States

    The roundtable established that implementing generational bans represents a powerful, long-term strategy for tackling deeply entrenched public health crises like tobacco use. Using the UK’s permanent ban on selling cigarettes to those born after 2009 as key evidence, experts analyzed how such policies fundamentally alter market dynamics and consumer behavior over time. These lessons suggest that other nations facing persistent addiction challenges should consider adopting similar age-gating or generational restrictions to accelerate decline and set a precedent for future public health policy interventions.

    Read at CFR

  5. 5.
    2026-07-13 | energy | 2026-W29 | Topics: Climate, Trade, United States

    The CSIS analysis finds that the U.S. grid's regulatory framework for connecting large loads is severely fragmented and unprepared for the massive electricity demands posed by AI data centers. FERC has mandated significant reforms across six regional operators, requiring them to modernize interconnection studies, prevent cost-shifting, and establish clear tariffs for co-located generation. Evidence shows that most operators fall far short of these new standards, necessitating complex, multi-year policy adjustments rather than simple compliance. Policymakers must coordinate federal regulation (FERC) with state utilities to accelerate grid modernization, ensuring energy affordability while maintaining technological competitiveness.

    Read at CSIS