Affirming the obligation of the President of the United States to comply with court orders.
H. Res. 188 is a non-binding House of Representatives resolution that affirms the obligation of the President to comply with court orders and reinforces the judiciary’s role in the constitutional system of checks and balances. Introduced March 4, 2025, the resolution cites multiple federal court orders and injunctions from January–February 2025 involving actions attributed to then-President Donald J. Trump (such as proposed citizenship policy, funding actions, and access to Treasury records) and declares that the judiciary has the authority to enforce its orders. It states the House’s view that the President and his administration must comply with existing court orders and decisions going forward, and it reiterates that the judiciary can use its constitutional and statutory tools to enforce its orders. As a resolution, it expresses congressional opinion and policy, not new law.
Key Points
- 1Non-binding declaration: The resolution is a statement of congressional opinion about the importance of obeying court orders and the proper separation of powers; it does not create new legal duties or funding or regulatory power.
- 2Affirmation of the judiciary’s role: It emphasizes that the judiciary is essential for checks and balances among the three branches of government.
- 3Call for compliance: It formally requests that President Donald J. Trump and his administration immediately comply with all existing court orders and decisions and continue to comply with future ones.
- 4Enforcement authority: It affirms the judiciary’s authority to use all tools granted by the Constitution and by Congress to enforce its orders.
- 5Context and citations: The resolution references a series of specific court orders and injunctions across several districts and circuits in early 2025 related to executive actions and funding, illustrating the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the courts.