4 ms·

As a non US citizen, I don’t understand what’s that shutdown even about, seems like absurd thing to do. Is it all because of Trump or he is not the only one to

by usaphp 8y ago

As a non US citizen, I don’t understand what’s that shutdown even about, seems like absurd thing to do. Is it all because of Trump or he is not the only one to blame? I remember there was some shutdown when Obama was there too? Or am I mistaken? Edit: downvoted for asking a question?

dwighttk 8y ago
it is a political thing. Both the House and the Senate have to approve bills that fund these various government agencies, so if a president has at least one of the two backing him up (just enough that they can't override his veto) then he can say give me X or we won't pass the funding bill. It's standard practice to tack lots of little x things onto the bill because they wouldn't ever really pass on their own, but people don't want to deal with a shutdown to stop them. Sometimes that is a big enough issue that people will deal with a shutdown.
brootstrap 8y ago
Hello, I am 28 years old and dont really ever recall a government shutdown happening in my years, pre-trump. People up above in the comments have written more details i would recommend reading thru the comments more to get info. However for a quick summary, trump is whinging like a bitch (this is literally all he does) because the democrats wont agree to his finances for the wall. Something like 5.7billion for just a down payment. So instead of negotiating like a good person, he just cries and SHUTS DOWN THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT. He has done like 3 shutdowns so far lol. guy is a fuckin nutjob but someone we elected him =(
- usaphp 8y ago
  Here is the one I was referring to, shutdown in 2013 during Obama period: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_government_shutdown https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_g...
Brakenshire 8y ago
It seems like in the US the two legislative branches and the executive branch of government have to all agree each year on a budget, or else everything shuts down? It's a curious system, I think in most countries not being able to pass a budget would bring down the government and cause a new election. It seems to rely very strongly on politicians seeking compromise, which is ambitious! A question to American posters: could any party holding any of the branches of government unilaterally shut down the entire government if they chose, until the next scheduled congressional or presidential election?
- bluGill 8y ago
  The judicial branch probably does not have that much control over the budget. (They can hold up parts, but their power is limited) Either the executive or legislative branch could though.
- rootusrootus 8y ago
  Only the legislative branch has enough power to unilaterally shut the gov't. The executive can make them work for it, but ultimately congress holds all the cards. The executive makes a budget, but it's just advisory. Officially the House is the source of the budget, which gets passed by the senate, then signed by the president. But as a practical matter there's much negotiation before and during the whole process, of course.
flyingpenguin 8y ago
https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/1879_rider_wars/ https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/18...
InclinedPlane 8y ago
Unlike sane countries if the US government doesn't pass a budget in time then federal workers can go unpaid. Many federal workers are nevertheless still forced to work (via summons) despite not being paid. This particular shutdown is due to a disagreement about providing funding for a border wall between the US and Mexico (one of Trump's campaign promises, though he said "Mexico will pay for it"). Keep in mind that the shutdown began during the previous congress, when Republicans controlled the House, Senate, and the Presidency. It has extended to the current congress where the Democrats now control the house. To break down some additional bits and pieces for folks about how the US government works: A bill (such as a budget) needs to be passed by both the House of Congress and by the Senate and also approved by the President. Senate rules make it possible to infinitely delay (effectively block) any bill without support of 60% of the Senate (so even a bill that would pass the Senate may not even be voted on if more than 40% of the Senate opposes it). If the President vetos (doesn't sign) a bill the house and senate can only override that with a 2/3 majority vote in both.
matt4077 8y ago
Why don’t you check Wikipedia or literally any english-language newspaper, instead of sending people on a mission explaining the basics to you? Nothing anybody is going to come up here in two paragraphs or less is going to do the subject justice.
- usaphp 8y ago
  > any english-language newspaper Most of the newspapers don't go into the reasoning behind it and just blame everything on Trump and it's hard to read a one sided point of view of wikipedia, I wanted to hear different opinions on the topic.

by usaphp 8y ago

dwighttk 8y ago

it is a political thing. Both the House and the Senate have to approve bills that fund these various government agencies, so if a president has at least one of the two backing him up (just enough that they can't override his veto) then he can say give me X or we won't pass the funding bill. It's standard practice to tack lots of little x things onto the bill because they wouldn't ever really pass on their own, but people don't want to deal with a shutdown to stop them. Sometimes that is a big enough issue that people will deal with a shutdown.

brootstrap 8y ago

Hello, I am 28 years old and dont really ever recall a government shutdown happening in my years, pre-trump. People up above in the comments have written more details i would recommend reading thru the comments more to get info. However for a quick summary, trump is whinging like a bitch (this is literally all he does) because the democrats wont agree to his finances for the wall. Something like 5.7billion for just a down payment. So instead of negotiating like a good person, he just cries and SHUTS DOWN THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT. He has done like 3 shutdowns so far lol. guy is a fuckin nutjob but someone we elected him =(

usaphp 8y ago
Here is the one I was referring to, shutdown in 2013 during Obama period: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_government_shutdown https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_g...

Brakenshire 8y ago

It seems like in the US the two legislative branches and the executive branch of government have to all agree each year on a budget, or else everything shuts down? It's a curious system, I think in most countries not being able to pass a budget would bring down the government and cause a new election. It seems to rely very strongly on politicians seeking compromise, which is ambitious! A question to American posters: could any party holding any of the branches of government unilaterally shut down the entire government if they chose, until the next scheduled congressional or presidential election?

bluGill 8y ago
The judicial branch probably does not have that much control over the budget. (They can hold up parts, but their power is limited) Either the executive or legislative branch could though.
rootusrootus 8y ago
Only the legislative branch has enough power to unilaterally shut the gov't. The executive can make them work for it, but ultimately congress holds all the cards. The executive makes a budget, but it's just advisory. Officially the House is the source of the budget, which gets passed by the senate, then signed by the president. But as a practical matter there's much negotiation before and during the whole process, of course.

flyingpenguin 8y ago

https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/1879_rider_wars/ https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/18...

InclinedPlane 8y ago

Unlike sane countries if the US government doesn't pass a budget in time then federal workers can go unpaid. Many federal workers are nevertheless still forced to work (via summons) despite not being paid. This particular shutdown is due to a disagreement about providing funding for a border wall between the US and Mexico (one of Trump's campaign promises, though he said "Mexico will pay for it"). Keep in mind that the shutdown began during the previous congress, when Republicans controlled the House, Senate, and the Presidency. It has extended to the current congress where the Democrats now control the house. To break down some additional bits and pieces for folks about how the US government works: A bill (such as a budget) needs to be passed by both the House of Congress and by the Senate and also approved by the President. Senate rules make it possible to infinitely delay (effectively block) any bill without support of 60% of the Senate (so even a bill that would pass the Senate may not even be voted on if more than 40% of the Senate opposes it). If the President vetos (doesn't sign) a bill the house and senate can only override that with a 2/3 majority vote in both.

matt4077 8y ago

Why don’t you check Wikipedia or literally any english-language newspaper, instead of sending people on a mission explaining the basics to you? Nothing anybody is going to come up here in two paragraphs or less is going to do the subject justice.

usaphp 8y ago
> any english-language newspaper Most of the newspapers don't go into the reasoning behind it and just blame everything on Trump and it's hard to read a one sided point of view of wikipedia, I wanted to hear different opinions on the topic.