1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

The Constitution grants the President the power to make recess appointments when the Senate is in recess, but this provision was intended for legitimate recesses, not the pro forma sessions currently used to prevent such appointments. Recess appointments circumvent the critical advice and consent role of the Senate and undermine our system of checks and balances. I urge you not to allow such usurpation of your duties to take place. We must abolish or severely limit the recess appointment power to maintain the integrity of the appointments process and prevent further erosion of Congressional authority.