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To: yoe

Beck and the Crew forget one thing. Article 1 Sec 8, number 17 of the enumerated powers. The federal government CAN NOT own any other lands other than what are indicated in that enumerated power. And the ten mile square? The is in reference to Washington DC.


5 posted on 04/13/2014 10:51:10 AM PDT by crz
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To: crz
That is incorrect. The US Government can own land according to Article 1 section. Lets look at the actual article.

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings

The land in question is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation area with includes Hover Dam, Lake Mead, several docks, repair facilities, power generation and distribution, roads, a coast guard auxiliary, marinas, and lots of other maintenance and administrative facilities.

In this case, there is an additional part of the Constitution called the Treaty clause from Article II section 2, clause 2 that comes into play. The reason that this is valid is that the US Government obtained ownership of the land via the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the US Mexico war.

It was after this war and subsequent treaty, that Nevada became a state. And in the state's constitution, it specifically refutes any ownership of the lands in question. This satisfies the consent of the legislature requirement.

So constitutionally speaking, there is no infringement by the US government for owning the land.

25 posted on 04/13/2014 11:37:15 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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