[T]here is not a syllable in the plan under consideration…
“[T]here is not a syllable in the plan under consideration which directly empowers the national courts to construe the laws according to the spirit of the Constitution.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Constitution does not give courts explicit power to interpret laws based on its spirit.
In simple terms: Courts lack direct authority to read laws by constitutional spirit.
Recognize limits of judicial power.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legal drafting
- court decisions
- legislative drafting
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How should judges balance text and spirit?
- Can courts infer authority beyond text?
Judicial power may be inferred but not explicit.