If the US government "shuts down," what are some effects?

[Rhea]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

I think everything shuts down. The idea that Republicans want to remove oversight really is one of the most absurd and hypocritical things they could do... and they have done very well in the hypocrite category.

 

[Harry Bosch]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

I could be wrong, but I thought that it only took a majority in congress to approve a nomination. If that is the case, the dems don't have the vote to do anything. Dems are powerless.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

I could be wrong, but I thought that it only took a majority in congress to approve a nomination. If that is the case, the dems don't have the vote to do anything. Dems are powerless.

There is a committee thing, I think. The Dems might not be able to stop it, but they can drag it out.

 

[Rhea]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

I could be wrong, but I thought that it only took a majority in congress to approve a nomination. If that is the case, the dems don't have the vote to do anything. Dems are powerless.

In the case of this particular nomination, there's a provision that you can't serve in this civilian post if you've been in the military in the most recent 7 (or 10?) years. This guy was in the military only 3 years ago, so they need to pass a resolution waving the requirement. For whatever reason, the GOP put this into a budget bill. I don't know their reasoning. But the Dems have to decide while voting on a budget item, whether to let this completely unrelated thing go through.

But my real question is, if Dems decide to not pass the CR, and the gov't "shuts down," is Congress then out of session, BECAUSE...

Then Obama can appoint Merrick Garland.

 

[skepticalbip]

The last government shutdown was in 2013.

As I recall, the primary thing that anyone not employed by the government noticed was that all the national parks, monuments, etc. were closed. This was apparently done so the public would put pressure on Congress to pass a CR since the national parks generate more revenue in admission fees than they cost to operate.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/heres-happened-time-government-shut/story?id=26997023

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The last government shutdown was in 2013.

As I recall, the primary thing that anyone not employed by the government noticed was that all the national parks, monuments, etc. were closed. This was apparently done so the public would put pressure on Congress to pass a CR since the national parks generate more revenue in admission fees than they cost to operate.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/heres-happened-time-government-shut/story?id=26997023

That wasn't a Government shutdown. That was a small and limited shutdown. If Congress doesn't pass a 'kick the fucking can down the god damn road for like the fortieth time in 8 years' bill, Government shuts down, most of it except security related stuff.

 

[skepticalbip]

I could be wrong, but I thought that it only took a majority in congress to approve a nomination. If that is the case, the dems don't have the vote to do anything. Dems are powerless.

In the case of this particular nomination, there's a provision that you can't serve in this civilian post if you've been in the military in the most recent 7 (or 10?) years. This guy was in the military only 3 years ago, so they need to pass a resolution waving the requirement. For whatever reason, the GOP put this into a budget bill. I don't know their reasoning. But the Dems have to decide while voting on a budget item, whether to let this completely unrelated thing go through.

It is common practice for controversial items to be put in budget bills. It sucks but it has been with us for at least the many decades now that I have been aware of politics. It is a political tactic used by whichever party is the majority party in Congress.

But my real question is, if Dems decide to not pass the CR, and the gov't "shuts down," is Congress then out of session, BECAUSE...

Sorry but Congress will not "shut down".

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

In the case of this particular nomination, there's a provision that you can't serve in this civilian post if you've been in the military in the most recent 7 (or 10?) years. This guy was in the military only 3 years ago, so they need to pass a resolution waving the requirement. For whatever reason, the GOP put this into a budget bill. I don't know their reasoning. But the Dems have to decide while voting on a budget item, whether to let this completely unrelated thing go through.

It is common practice for controversial items to be put in budget bills. It sucks but it has been with us for at least the many decades now that I have been aware of politics. It is a political tactic used by the majority party in Congress.

To pass legislation to allow incompetent people to stand in the President's Cabinet?

But my real question is, if Dems decide to not pass the CR, and the gov't "shuts down," is Congress then out of session, BECAUSE...

Sorry but Congress will not "shut down".

But the Federal Government and most of their services would.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

The last government shutdown was in 2013.

As I recall, the primary thing that anyone not employed by the government noticed was that all the national parks, monuments, etc. were closed. This was apparently done so the public would put pressure on Congress to pass a CR since the national parks generate more revenue in admission fees than they cost to operate.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/heres-happened-time-government-shut/story?id=26997023

Indeed. The only parts closed are those that people like, so that pressure would be put on congress. A real government shutdown would include the DEA, the ATF, the IRS, and our entire overseas operations. Never going to happen.

 

[ZiprHead]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

I believe congress has to directly declare to not be in session.

IIRC, one of Obama's appointments was deemed invalid by the SC because, even though they hadn't met in weeks, they never officially closed session.

 

[skepticalbip]

A question came up in a comments section that intrigues me.

The GOP proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a provision to allow an otherwise not qualified person to be appointed to a cabinet position.

So it Dems refuse to pass it, and the government shuts down...
Does that mean congress is no longer in session?

I believe congress has to directly declare to not be in session.

IIRC, one of Obama's appointments was deemed invalid by the SC because, even though they hadn't met in weeks, they never officially closed session.

I think you are right, if I recall correctly.

But as for Congress shutting down, in the event of a funding crisis Congress will be the last branch to shut down because without Congress there is no agency empowered to appropriate funds. Before Congress would be shut down for lack of funding social security, veterans administration, all enforcement agencies, military, etc. (in effect all agencies overseen by POTUS) would be defunded. Essentially a total collapse of the government (sorta like in the collapse of the USSR the Politburo was the last standing remnant of government).