Can the US Government be overthrown?

Answer 1

If the nation's ideals-which it was founded on-are violated to an extreme degree, and a powerful uprising and powerful (with many many members) rebel army was formed, then the capital at D.C. could be militarily taken over, which would lead to the overthrow in government, and the restoration of America. But-this is highly unlikely to happen now, or until something drastically bad happens to the American Constitution/way of governing the nation.

Answer 2

While it may be technically possible it is highly unlikely, I'd say politically impossible. First, the US Military's oath is to the US Constitution, not to any individual or group of politicians or officers. We agree to obey all their orders, but the orders must be constitutional. Second, you'd have to get the vast majority of enlisted men and women (and officers) to support such a move. A handful of generals aren't diddly squat to American soldiers. Third, when the American public rose to oppose such a coup, the individual soldiers are not likely to fire on their parents, siblings, etc.

Sergeants and privates are the best defense against any such attempt at a coup. They would simply refuse to follow unconstitutional orders. THAT, the conscience of the individual soldier, is our best defense against a military coup. There is no history of it, we can change governments at the ballot box every 2 years if we choose, and therefore no need for a coup.

I am US Army retired and there is NO WAY I would support a coup of the US democratically-elected government, nor would I have when on active duty. While GIs may despise certain presidents of political parties (for our generation it was Carter), they are loyal as hell to the Constitution and the People. Only if some president were to declare himself king or president for life or something could that happen, and since no president could do that without the full support of the military, he or she is not going to be able to declare themselves ruler. Ergo, no need for a coup.

Answer 3

No. The military enlistment oath for enlisted folks and the commissioning oath of officers include the phrase "To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, to bear true faith and allegiance to the same", BEFORE the part about obeying the orders of the officers appointed above me.

So the military obeys the President and the Congress. But if the President were to order the military to arrest the members of Congress or take any other action in violation of the Constitution, the military would have the duty to arrest the President in order to defend the Constitution.

Something like this happened in Honduras last month; the President of Honduras attempted to stage an illegal "election" which would have allowed the President to continue in office. Interestingly enough, the election was never held - but the results of the election have been found on computers seized from the President's offices! The military arrested the president and forced him into exile, preserving the Honduran Constitution against being overthrown by its own president!

Answer 4

Yes. If there were overwhelming, forensic, physical and sworn statements that a foreign government colluded with a faction to defraud the American people of a fair election.

Answer 5

I would say yes