Tell Congress to Consider Merrick Garland for Supreme Court Justice

Nestled deep inside the world's most famous document lies Article II Section II Clause II of the United States Constitution. While not one of the more famous sections of the revolutionary document, it nevertheless provides crucial information to the workings of our national government. "[The President] shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint...Justices of the Supreme Court." Written so simply, there would seem no reason for controversy; the President must nominate a Justice to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, with the Senate reviewing his choice. Should they approve, the President has the authority to officially appoint said nominee to Justice of the Supreme Court.

For 229 years, no matter partisan on personal politics, the Senate has never failed to uphold this duty. While many Supreme Court nominees have failed, each has done so after Congress has decided, with much discussion and debate, that said candidates lacked some quality necessary for the job. Of course, some motivations were undoubtedly motivated by partisan politics. Yet all the same, even those as polarizing as Robert Bork were given a chance to prove their candidacy, and ultimately, a vote.

On March 16, 2016, just over a month after the untimely death of Justice Antony Scalia, President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the fill the open post of Supreme Court Justice. Mere hours after the nomination, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell announced he would not even meet with Garland. Many Senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, followed suit, announcing that they "would not consider" any nominee put forward by Mr. Obama.
These actions are not only unprecedented, but also conflict with the very wording of the Constitution. According to Article II.II.II, the Senate must "advise" the President on Supreme Court nominees. While they are not obligated to accept any nominee, the refusal of this Senate to consider or even meet with Mr. Garland violates the principle crafted by our founding fathers.

As the supreme law of the land, the Constitution these Senators must be required to meet and consider Mr. Garland in order to successfully advise President Obama, no matter if they approve his nomination or not. And by not fulfilling these responsibilities, the 114th United States Congress is violating the principles that this great country was founded on.

And so it is for this reason that I create this petition today, to restore order to our nation's capital and ensure that, no matter the partisan divisions, our representatives fulfill their duties set forth by the United States Constitution. Should their actions go unchecked, the risk for a dangerous precedent of overriding the Constitution for political gain exists, something that threatens to undermine the very foundation that this great country was built on.,