Without changing the law or the Constitution, is there any method in which the government can avoid a shutdown in the future?
Grow up? I’m sorry, but if the law allows it, it will be done.
I understand that there is no legal way to prevent a shutdown other than by the will of the politicians. But I feel that the current state of events is as close to a constitutional crisis as I’ve seen in this country in my lifetime. My question is whether there is a procedural method to prevent one party from bringing such a large portion of the government to a halt.
Voting, primarily.
There is a parliamentary maneuver up the Democrats’ sleeve to try to force a vote on a bill that will end the shutdown, but that will take many days if it is successful.
There have been proposals - at least one bill sponsored by a House Republican - to automatically maintain current funding for 120 days if a budget isn’t passed on time. Those proposals have not gone anywhere in the past, and I would be shocked if they have a chance now.