The White House could resort to an little-known line in the US constitution to prevent a ruinous default if Democrats and Republicans do not agree to raise the debt ceiling by August 2, experts say.
The 143-year-old clause, written to address still-potent divisions after the bloody Civil War, has been dredged up by legal scholars as well as the US Treasury secretary to suggest how a debt debacle might be avoided.
Some legal experts believe he could, citing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1868.
"The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law ... shall not be questioned," it reads.
...
