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The Peaceful Transition of Presidential Power
After King Benjamin advised his people concerning their dealings with one another, he urged, âAnd see that these things be done in wisdom and in order,â repeating, âall things must be done in orderâ (Mosiah 4:27). Applying this counsel to our citizenship, we can support the peaceful transition of presidential power by advocating for a process with wisdom and order overarching. After serving two terms as the first president of the newly formed United States, long before term limits were established, George Washington declined running for a third term, in part to keep a promise he made early on to not seek âunfair power.â Thus began the history of the…
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Presidential Pardons: Possibilities, Precedents, and Problems
With presidential pardons in recent news, MWEG offers a Q&A to sort through possibilities, precedents, and potential problems with this presidential power. Q: What are the purposes and types of presidential pardons?A: This power allows a president to forgive criminal offenses through pardons, amnesty, commutation, and reprieve. Informed by the British monarchy, the executive power to pardon was intended to add elements of mercy and clemency to the Constitution. The assumption held that men of virtue would exercise this power for the good of the people and not for their own purposes. Pardons grant the person complete legal forgiveness of a crime, as if it had never happened. Amnesty does…
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MWEG Response to the 2024 Election Results
On November 5, 2024, millions of American citizens cast their votes for the next president of the United States, and Donald J. Trump emerged as the clear winner. As it was four years ago, the election was free and fair. In preparation for the election, our organization tirelessly worked alongside countless organizations and individuals to shore up our election systems against potential scenarios that would harm public trust. We acknowledge with gratitude the government employees, poll workers, and volunteers (including many members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government) who made this familiar process fair. Across the nation, a multitude of voters made significant sacrifices to cast their ballots, further affirming…
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Call to Action: Commit to Accept Election Results
With the 2024 presidential election less than two weeks away, many are feeling deep apprehension about how the electoral process will play out. We can feel confident, however, knowing that over the past four years, public servants, elected officials, and the American people have worked tirelessly to shore up the institutions, infrastructure, and systems that have ensured our freedom and protected our liberties for more than 200 years. These efforts have resulted in the most secure and safe elections in our nation’s history. Certainty in elections has sustained our country through wars, economic downturns, social unrest, and political transitions. Even when we are deeply divided, our reliance on an election’s outcomes…
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SCOTUS Decision on Presidential Immunity â An MWEG Interview With Expert Benjamin Wittes
Jessica Larson, MWEGâs senior director of advocacy, recently interviewed Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare and senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, about the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. Below is a summary of that conversation as well as the full video interview. On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled on presidential immunity in response to former President Trumpâs federal indictment. The decision is a historic expansion of presidential immunity, leaving the lower courts with a lot to still determine. Since 1984, the president has had immunity from civil suits for official acts while in office. We have never had a president who…
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Press Conference Statement on UT Supreme Court Decision
The following statement was read by MWEG communications specialist Laura Lewis at a press conference at the Utah State Capitol. Mormon Women for Ethical Government is grateful to be here today alongside our fellow plaintiffs to celebrate this historic ruling. It is fitting that this victory for Utah voters was achieved by Utah voters â those who supported Prop 4, those who participated in the independent redistricting process, those who organized this lawsuit, and those who courageously stood up as plaintiffs. The people of Utah have come together to assert their right to reform their government. This unanimous Utah Supreme Court decision upholds the will of the people, and we…
