The National Emergencies Act was enacted in 1976 to prevent longstanding or open-ended national emergencies from persisting; however, the Presidents continue to renew ongoing national emergencies (e.g. National Emergency with respect to Iran, dated 1979, by Executive Order 12170).
There does not seem to be transparency to the public regarding why we should continue to be in a state of national emergency. If the issue has been going on for 36 years, it must not be truly emergent. What powers/authorities does the President gain from declaring a national emergency?
It seems that the National Emergencies Act is being bypassed, eliminating checks-and-balances entrusted to Congress.
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