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