08/01/2024 | Press release | Archived content
The No Kings Act would reaffirm that Presidents and Vice Presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law
Additionally, the legislation clarifies that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied
The bill was introduced following the historic and dangerous U.S. Supreme Court ruling that provided broad presidential immunity statues
Senator Reverend Warnock: "The Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision has further eroded its confidence with the American people and hollows out the notion that no one person is above the law"
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and 34 of his Democratic Senate colleagues introduced the No Kings Act, legislation that would reaffirm that Presidents and Vice Presidents do not have absolute executive immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law and clarify that Congress-not the Supreme Court-determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied.
The very basis of U.S. democracy is based on the idea that no person is above the law, but on July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step to overturn this most simple premise of our constitutional order. The No Kings Act reaffirms that the President is not immune to legal accountability and removes the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to hear appeals related to presidential immunity.
"The Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision has further eroded its confidence with the American people and hollows out the notion that no one person is above the law," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "That is why Congress must pass the No Kings Act to exercise its oversight role and preserve a system of checks and balances that holds all public servants to the highest of ethical, moral, and legal standards. For the good of our democracy, we must get this done."
The No Kings Act would:
Across American history, Congress has exercised its authority to legislate on constitutional matters. From civil rights to religion to regulating elections, Congress has often enacted federal statutes directly contravening constitutional decisions from the Supreme Court when lawmakers believed the Court misapplied the Constitution.
In addition to Senator Reverend Warnock, the legislation was also co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Gary Peters (D-MI).