People for years have been forming governments but because of human nature, they end up becoming weak or totalitarian. In the 1800s a French philosopher came up with an idea on how a nation can be self governed while enjoying the advantages of strong leadership. His name was Charles-Louis de Secondat and the book was “Spirit of the laws”. He proposed that if we could break up the distribution of powers to our governing authority, we could keep it from descending into tyranny. The word “tyranny” refers to a group or a person forcing others to do things against their will. Majority rule isn’t good when the laws they make violate the rights of others. Hitler had an 80 percent or better popularity in the polls after he took over Germany.

We always hate it when we have to work or play games with those make the rules up as they go and for their own convenience. And we have all had our bouts with those who are judgmental and say we aren’t doing things right. The games are no fun and work is stressful under those circumstances.  In government, these actions cause injustices. The way to avoid injustice is to have one department limited to making the rules, another limited to enforcing them, and another judging how they are applied. That is what we call the separation of powers.

The interests of business and the states are supposed to be represented by Senators while people’s interests are represented by the House of Representatives. They are tasked with making laws for everyone. No other entity is given that privilege or should assume it. We vote people in to provide a function and do their jobs. If they step outside of the scope of their appointed work, it is an injustice to all of us. If they aren’t doing their job by presenting budgets and enacting laws, we aren’t getting our money’s worth.

The President is the chief law enforcement officer and the commander in chief of our army. We put them in power for enforcement of the laws our congress enacts. So when an executive order is enacted, we have to be careful that it doesn’t extend outside the scope of work we appointed for him. The executive branch is supposed to review laws that are presented to make sure there is continuity. He has the power to veto if there is a problem such as something that is unenforceable. A judge or a president who make up laws as they go violate the principle of the separation of powers and expose everyone to the risk of tyranny.