Could the U.S. government ever be overthrown in a coup?

Question

I was reading today about Boris Yeltsin's death and how he was able to help stop a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991 when a bunch of high-ranking military officers took control of government buildings in Moscow, at which point Yeltsin jumped up on one of the tanks to stop them, effectively halting their actions because he was a high-ranking government official.

We don't have a government and/or parliamentary structure like various governments that have been overthrown in a coup, but it got me to thinking, is it theoretically possible to stage a coup and overthrow the government? Would it take a bunch of military officers taking control of buildings in D.C.? Or would it be more complicated than that? I know for instance that by law Congress can only meet at the U.S. Capitol except under extraordinary circumstances, but if, for example, Flight 93 had hit the Capitol or White House on 9/11, what would this have done to government if, say, Congress had nowhere to meet?

Paul, the point you make is why I prefaced my question with the historical tidbit about Yeltsin. ;-) Context, please, context.

Answer 1

The way our Government is set up -with 3 separate bodies acting independently of one another, I think it'd be pretty difficult to overthrow. Moreover, while the military is beholden to the President as its "Commander & Chief", it's STILL a civilian run institution...-And I DON'T think it'd turn against the REST of the government AND the American people- if the President suddenly orderd it to promote him to "dictator" & take over the Country. Let's HOPE we never find out...

Answer 2

this happened to brazils democracy in 1964 through 1980's, it was sponsered by the United States because the esxcuse the military gave for such actions was that the government was becoming too socialist, and due to fear of a communist regime they took over congress and all other public bodies. A lot of conservatives and catholics supported the coup. The coup got out of hand though and a bit violent, it censured midia, everything, here we call it "the time of the dictatorship"
im no communist but i have to say it got out of hand. Im not sure if it would have been possible without support from America who obviously didnt want communism reaching a country bigger than the continental USA (true fact).
Anyways to your question, yes i think it is possible but it would need great support from a group or country or idealism.
Brasil only had elections for president again (since 1964) in 1986. our constitution was redon, thats why many refer to brazils democracy as young. (its the 4th largest in the world)

Answer 3

Yes, in a limited sense. Section 4 of the 25th Amendment allows the vice-president and a majority of the Cabinet to issue a written declaration that would transfer the Presidency to the Vice-President. This was intended as a safe guard if the President was alive but not conscious and had never formally transferred power. The Vice-President would be the leader of the country unopposed for 27 days before he would need Congressional approval.

Answer 4

They weren't attempting to swap our government with a fascist regime, they have been attempting to avert Roosevelt from arising a fascist regime. Roosevelt agreed with Mussolini on almost all info, and there exchange into very good reason to be petrified of the concetration of potential into Roosevelt's arms. even if this meant plot isn't something yet a fairy tale. there is not any direct information that it ever approached fruition. in spite of if it exchange into meditated by employing each physique you declare, it exchange into no longer a failed coup because of the fact it by no ability began. NO strikes have been TAKEN. no longer something exchange into executed, no one exchange into killed, no march befell, no money exchange into even spent. once you're searching for fascists the Bush family isn't the place you elect to seek. Fascism exchange into and is a penny-ante version of socialism, basically like Nazism, and maximum of its tenets are extremely at domicile interior the well known Democratic celebration. you will no longer discover any Republicans advocating the form of government potential it is recurring between Democrats and Fascists the two. strangely adequate the left in united statesa. yawned while the fact approximately Carnivore and Echelon got here out interior the 90s, yet now that we've an certainly risk-free practices hazard to rigidity approximately they are afraid of the Patriot Act. even if you forgot Aaron Burr's tried coup. That one exchange into certainly in progression while disrupted no longer basically like the Butler fancies.

Answer 5

No, we are a republic. God bless the founding fathers. They created the three branches of government to ensure that this would be almost impossible to happen. There could be a another revolution but this would be highly unlikely to happen unless there were major catastrophes and the federal government could no longer function properly. But even then there are plans in place to counter any such situations. Never forget this nation is like no nation the world have ever seen. We have over 200+ years of freedom flowing through our vains. Unlike the soviet union and other countries our people no nothing but democracy and freedom I myself would fight till my death before I gave up that precious gift of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness paid for in blood by so many who came before us.

Answer 6

Anything is certainly possible, but one thing more likely then not to stop is our militaries distance from the government and politics. In Russia the military ran the government and got what it wanted; and in the US that is not the case - sure they operate with the government but not in control of it.

And then you have the Secret Service....they'd have something to say about it.

Answer 7

Yes it could but it is unlikely. In order for a true coup to take place a civil war is required.

Answer 8

Don't take this wrong, but that is a dangerous question to ask in a public forum.

you say, but what about free speech?

Partiot Act 1 + 2 with the military commissions act REMOVED IT.

Just don't want you to get in trouble.

Answer 9

Yes, It happened about 7 years ago.

Answer 10

I believe so. If enough people were to vote for third parties in this country it would certainly be a revolution.