Opinions
Application of 28 U.S.C. § 458 to Presidential Appointments of Federal Judges
Section 458 of title 28 does not apply to presidential appointments of judges to the federal judiciary.
Legislation Denying Citizenship at Birth to Certain Children Born in the United States
A bill that would deny citizenship to children born in the United States to certain classes of alien parents is unconstitutional on its face.
A constitutional amendment to restrict birthright citizenship, although not technically unlawful, would flatly contradict the Nation’s constitutional history and constitutional traditions.
Effect of Appropriations for Other Agencies and Branches on the Authority to Continue Department of Justice Functions During the Lapse in the Department’s Appropriations
Where Congress has provided appropriations for the legislative branch, the Department of Justice may continue to provide testimony at hearings and perform other services related to funded functions of the legislative branch during a lapse in funding for the Department, if the participation of the Department is necessary for the hearing or other funded function to be effective.
Similarly, those functions of the Department o f Justice that are necessary to the effective execution of functions by an agency or department of government that has current fiscal year appropriations, such that a suspension of the Department’s functions during a lapse in its own appropriations would prevent or significantly damage the execution of those funded functions, may continue during the Department’s funding lapse.
Proposed Deployment of United States Armed Forces Into Bosnia
The President, acting without specific statutory authorization, may lawfully introduce United States ground troops into Bosnia in order to assist the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to ensure compliance with a peace agreement.
Presidential Discretion to Delay Making Determinations Under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991
The President is required to make a determination that would trigger sanctions under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 if he is presented with sufficient evidence to compel the determination.
The President may delay making a determination that would trigger sanctions under the Act when the delay is necessary to protect intelligence sources or methods used in counter-proliferation activities.
The President may delay making a determination that would trigger sanctions under the Act when no reasonable alternative means exist to protect the life of an intelligence source.
Participation in Congressional Hearings During an Appropriations Lapse
Under the Antideficiency Act, an officer or employee of the Department of Justice may participate in a congressional hearing during a lapse in appropriations for the Department if he or she is a Senate-confirmed officer, if appropriated funds are available for his or her participation, if he or she is subpoenaed, or if there exists other express or necessarily implied authorization to participate in the hearing.
The Secretary of the Treasury’s Authority With Respect to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund
5 U.S.C. § 8348 empowers the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend the investment of additional contributions to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and redeem prior to maturity CSRDF investment assets in order to avoid exceeding the statutory debt limit.
In exercising his CSRDF redemption authority, the Secretary of the Treasury may, during a “debt issuance suspension period,” redeem CSRDF investment assets based on the total amount of civil service retirement and disability benefits authorized to be paid during the period.
The Secretary of the Treasury has discretion to designate the length of a debt issuance suspension period based on factors, identified by the Secretary, that are reasonably relevant to his determination.
The suspension during a debt limit crisis of CSRDF investment and the redemption of CSRDF investment assets would not cause a violation of the public debt limit.
Authorization of Immigration Emergency Fund Reimbursements
The continuing resolution enacted on September 30, 1995, does not limit or suspend the authority that would otherwise exist for the obligation or expenditure of an Immigration Emergency Fund reimbursement pursuant to section 404(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The Immigration Emergency Fund may be used to reimburse the State of Florida for its increase in social service and health expenses deriving from the influx of Cuban immigrants resulting from a presidential decision.
Reassignment of Assistant Secretary of Labor Without Senate Reconfirmation
Where the Secretary of Labor exercises statutory power to reassign the duties of a lawfully confirmed Assistant Secretary of Labor whose duties are not otherwise assigned by statute, reconfirmation of the Assistant Secretary is not legally required.
Constitutionality of Awarding Historic Preservation Grants to Religious Properties
A court applying current precedent is most likely to conclude that the direct award of historic preservation grants to churches and other pervasively sectarian institutions violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.