You are right without meaning to be. This is actually the correct interpretation. Who else decides if the country is in a state of emergency? That is politics.
The whole concept of "state of emergency" becomes meaningless if you are somehow in a permanent state of emergency. Or if there is no change in circumstances whatsoever and a new administration decides that the country is suddenly in a state of emergency for no particular reason.
Sure, its politics but it shouldn't be a hack for the president to do whatever he wants illegally. Obviously the courts should step in and stop this. Otherwise the constitution might as well be discarded and the congress disbanded.
Upon hearing these words, pqtyw was enlightened.