Re:We mailed one hundred letters to test the postal service
by philwelch on Monday May 03, 2021 @11:58AM
(#27026716)
> literally required by the constitution
I don’t think this is true. The Constitution provides Congress the power to “establish post offices and post roads” in Article I, Section 8, but the list of enumerated powers begins with the phrase “The Congress shall have Power”, which does not seem to establish a positive mandate to exercise such powers.
For instance, other enumerated powers include:
> To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
There hasn’t been a declaration of war since 1941, and it’s been even longer since Congress issued any letters of marque and reprisal. The postal service had the same constitutional status as pirates: Congress certainly could commission them if they want to, but it’s not strictly required.
I don’t think this is true. The Constitution provides Congress the power to “establish post offices and post roads” in Article I, Section 8, but the list of enumerated powers begins with the phrase “The Congress shall have Power”, which does not seem to establish a positive mandate to exercise such powers.
For instance, other enumerated powers include:
> To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
There hasn’t been a declaration of war since 1941, and it’s been even longer since Congress issued any letters of marque and reprisal. The postal service had the same constitutional status as pirates: Congress certainly could commission them if they want to, but it’s not strictly required.