What if, over summer recess, there is a security threat at the capitol that requires a safety check that lasts longer than "intended"?

He can't. Congress scan meet anywhere. He can withhold checks and the like and just ignore laws as long as the administration will let him. Ultimately the final guarantors of the democracy are hose much derided bureaucrats.

we had a national emergency in 1861. the president has NO control over the congress except in the veto. we are not like those failed states in europe

The Executive and Legislative parts of the government are separated so as to prevent the president from having the sort of control over Congress that a Prime Minister has over his or her Parliament.

What if Trump instructs his followers to exercise their first amendment rights (and second amendment if necessary) to take back their democracy by preventing Congress from meeting at an alternate location. "You are either with us or you stand with the enemies of the people!" -Trump (August, 2017)

Remember, Congress has no army. Didn't Andrew Jackson say, Marshall has made his decision. Now let him try and enforce it." ?

Not to mention that Congress doesn't dissolve. There is no mechanism for that in the Constitution. Each Congress has a strict 2-year lifespan. Each house can go into recess of their own accord, but that's also their own volition and they continue to be the Congress.

Okay, but now you expect Trump's supporters to be able to actively defy the Constitution. Congress would find a way to meet and impeach the shit out of him.

And also the US military serves the Constitution. If the President tried to pull that shit, they'd back Congress.

correction Trprado. they protect and defend the constitution and would refuse the unlawful order to attack the congress, unlike the army under jackson.

furthermore the army under jackson was still funded by the congress. so it was two against one. i don't see the same today.

So if trump can slow roll investigation to2018, Congress is over.
Trump's followers will believe that they are preserving their America. The constitution, while it works for the people, is just a tool to do that. If it doesn't work anymore, get rid of it. Trump has already talked about changing the first amendment to make it easier to control the press. The military *might* ignore the commander in chief but I doubt they would back any party *against* him. Also, trump can federalize militia from Alabama etc if he doubts loyalty of DoD.

Preventing a Constitutionally organized facet of government from meeting isn't preserving America under any given twisted vision.

Agreed Brad. Jackson had a weaker adversary to face than Congress.

the last time the militia from alabama rose up, Gen Grants and Sherman, spanked their asses!!

@Prado, I just layed out a twisted vision. If it's supported by breitbart and infowars, and that's where I get my news, why are we still discussing this? We are men of action!

marching to Mobile, .....

@Brad, this time they won't be opposing federal troops.

you need a serious smackdown hauta! action this; wIw'

marching to Mobile, .....

you know gov wallace tried that. it didn't work out for him

Can Coca Cola dissolve congress?

@TrPrado One hopes the military would defend the constitution and protect Congress, but given how infiltrated the military is by "oathkeepers" and religious zealots (see all the religious indoctrination bull crap at the Air Force Academy) that I for one have little confidence the military wouldn't just decide that they have greater obedience to god than to those horrible liberals and back Trump in any such showdown. After all, who is to say that they wouldn't decide that anyone opposing Trump is UnAmerican and an enemy of the state and that therefor the constitution authorizes them to shoot them

two other factors:
1) there is no reason Trump has to follow the constitution. He can just sieze power as long as the military backs the GOP. He wouldn't suspend Congress, he'd suspend the constitution.

2) the GOP is very close to having enough statehouses to amend the constitution on its own. Who is to say that the GOP wouldn't amend the constitution to suspend elections and hand itself powers to go after dissidents and opponents? Remember, the Nazis seized control through Constitutional means through exactly this process. Here, the GOP is close to powerful enough to change the constitution at will.

3) Remember, it wouldn't be the first time the miliary and corporations teamed up to try to depose the constitution. Remember, FDR faced a potential coup that Gen. Smedley Butler stopped by outing the plotters, basically. (there's a military tradition one hopes our military remembers!)

I've spoken with too many military folks and veterans to believe myself wrong on my conclusion, Ogion.

Not so sure about "very close". Three-quarters is a lot and each successive one gets harder to capture.

But, it is a troubling thought.

Smedley Butler outing a conspiracy of wealthy veterans who had become businessman is exactly the sort of thing I mean. They had offered him a dictatorship, and he gave them over to Congress.

President for Life Idi Amin, I mean Donald Trump.

Republicans control both chambers of 32 state legislatures or have veto proof majorities. They need only two more

And @TrOrado, I've had too many conversations with military people to have any confidence which way they'd go when the chips are down. Sure, they'll "support the constitutions but their view of the constitution isn't one that includes robust protections of voting rights, minoritiy civil rights, or liberal democratic outcomes. When "constitutional" = "right wing white supremacist and Christian supremacist views because the US "is a Christian country" then I have a lot less confidence that there is a much strong support for the actual constitution.