How TV Taught America Bad Constitutional Law
Among the handful of constitutional provisions that have never been used, Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment surely has the highest profile. Ratified in 1967, Section 4 provides a way to strip the president of his powers if he or she is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” Its dramatic potential is obvious; presidents in movies, books, and TV shows face Section 4 all the time. But in real life, Section 4 has only gotten significant attention since President Donald Trump took office in 2017.
President Trump has faced a steady chorus of critics who believe he is unfit for office. Michael Wolff’s , the anonymous New York Times writer, and former FBI director have all reported on internal discussions about invoking Section 4. But the loudest critics are on social media. Every day, the hashtag (never , for some reason) abounds as
