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Trump Constitutional Challenge to Congress Over Adjournment a Long Shot

Katherine Gypson

   WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumpwarnedthis week that hemightuse a
   never-before-invoked power under the U.S.Constitution to adjourn the
   Congressunless it took steps to confirma number ofhis appointments.

   But lawmakers andlegalscholars say the move is unlikely and not
   actuallypermissiblein the way the president is trying to use it.

   "It's a huge unprecedented power grab for the executive branch to tell
   Congress when they are adjourned or to adjourn them for themselves.
   It's just never been done, even in times of war and depression," said
   CaseyBurgat, an expert incongressional procedure at the George
   Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

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