--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do Americans still broadly believe that a…" description: "\"“Do Americans still broadly believe that a president’s gradual assumption of dictatorial power must be halted? That the constitutional equilibrium of d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png" --- # Do Americans still broadly believe that a president’s… ![“Do Americans still broadly believe that a president’s gradual assumption of dictatorial power must be halted? That the constitutional equilibrium of divided authorities balancing and checking each other must be preserved? That their liberty hinges on the separation of powers?” quote by Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png) > ““Do Americans still broadly believe that a president’s gradual assumption of dictatorial power must be halted? That the constitutional equilibrium of divided authorities balancing and checking each other must be preserved? That their liberty hinges on the separation of powers?”” [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The question warns that citizens must stay vigilant against incremental erosion of democratic checks, emphasizing the need to protect constitutional balance **In simple terms:** Democracy requires constant defense against power grabs Key Takeaway Guard democratic institutions and stay informed Themes democracy checks and balances authoritarianism civic duty Mood political educational Type urgent reflective When to use this quote - elections - legislative oversight - public discourse Key Concepts Political theory constitutional law civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you monitor power concentration? - What actions protect separation of powers? A Different Perspective Complacency can allow gradual loss of freedoms ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption Dictatorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption-dictatorial-5654211/) [Constitutional Equilibrium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-equilibrium-2762296/) [Divided Authorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided-authorities-5654213/) [Halted Constitutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halted-constitutional-5654212/) [Separation of powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-powers/) [Separation Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-powers-550918/) ## Related quotes > [ It is by far the safer course to lay \[considerations of the future\] altogether aside; and to confine our attention wholly to the nature… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-by-far-the-safer-course-to-lay-considerations-of-the-future/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [I believe in the separation of powers. If a judge crosses the line between interpreting and making the law, he has crossed the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-powers-if-a-judge-crosses-the-line/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [I sometimes think that when he was at Harvard Law School, Mr. Obama cut class the day they got to the separation of powers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/i-sometimes-think-that-when-he-was-at-harvard-law-school-mr-obama-cut/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The bedrock principle of separation of powers ought to be upheld regardless of the (D) or (R) that rests behind a given president's name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-bedrock-principle-of-separation-of-powers-ought-to-be-upheld/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The basic premise of the Constitution was a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances because man was perceived as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/the-basic-premise-of-the-constitution-was-a-separation-of-powers-and/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [ “The political liberty, of the subject, (separation of powers), is a tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has of \[their\] safety.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-political-liberty-of-the-subject-separation-of-powers-is-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Our political organization, based as it is on an eighteenth-century separation of powers and on a nineteenth-century nationalist state, is generally recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/our-political-organization-based-as-it-is-on-an-eighteenth-century/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/under-the-doctrine-of-separation-of-powers-the-manner-in-which-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“In any event, one must consider the broader implications of a frontal assault on the separation of powers as outdated, ineffective, and unaccountable. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-o-sargentich/in-any-event-one-must-consider-the-broader-implications-of-a-frontal/) [Thomas O. Sargentich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-o-sargentich/) > [“In a recurring theme among progressives, Croly condemned the Constitution’s separation of powers, a doctrine essential to averting centralized tyranny, as the main obstacle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-r-levin/in-a-recurring-theme-among-progressives-croly-condemned-the/) [Mark R. Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-r-levin/) > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [The Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/the-supreme-court-is-the-last-line-of-defense-for-the-separation-of/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [I rise in support of the separation of powers as established by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. The Constitution clearly delegates the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/i-rise-in-support-of-the-separation-of-powers-as-established-by-our/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [It was the separation of powers upon which the framers placed their hopes for the preservation of the people's liberties. Despite this heritage, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/it-was-the-separation-of-powers-upon-which-the-framers-placed-their/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [One of the principles upon which the E.U. is built is the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/one-of-the-principles-upon-which-the-e-u-is-built-is-the-separation/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) ## More by Andrew McCarthy > [“As was easily foreseeable, the unprovoked military adventure empowered anti-American terrorists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/as-was-easily-foreseeable-the-unprovoked-military-adventure-empowered/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Republicans, as well as Democrats committed to our constitutional framework, should fearlessly marshal the administration’s frauds, obstructions, and violations of law. They should demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/republicans-as-well-as-democrats-committed-to-our-constitutional/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“In addition to involving the nation in an unauthorized war in Libya that empowered jihadist enemies of the United States, he and his subordinates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/in-addition-to-involving-the-nation-in-an-unauthorized-war-in-libya/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“The president and his subordinates willfully defrauded the American people, including investors in the public securities exchanges, in connection with Solyndra, a solar energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-president-and-his-subordinates-willfully-defrauded-the-american/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Rouhani triumphantly boasted in a tweet that the United States had “surrendered to Iranian nation’s will,” while the regime’s chief negotiator bragged that Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/rouhani-triumphantly-boasted-in-a-tweet-that-the-united-states-had/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Passing articles of impeachment against President Obama in the House at this premature point would have the same effect. There is no public will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/passing-articles-of-impeachment-against-president-obama-in-the-house/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“He and his subordinates have issued a visa to a self-proclaimed member of a formally designated Egyptian terrorist organization in order to enable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/he-and-his-subordinates-have-issued-a-visa-to-a-self-proclaimed/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Willful and repeated violation of the Constitution is the textbook example of high crimes and misdemeanors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/willful-and-repeated-violation-of-the-constitution-is-the-textbook/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Congressional Democrats want the current president to use the enormous raw power vested in his office by Article II to achieve statist transformation. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/congressional-democrats-want-the-current-president-to-use-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“With the November election looming and the president’s campaign rhetoric about decimating al-Qaeda becoming laughable, the White House endeavored to defraud the American people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/with-the-november-election-looming-and-the-president-s-campaign/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“He and his subordinates have repeatedly, systematically and willfully withheld from Congress and from the American people information to which they are entitled, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/he-and-his-subordinates-have-repeatedly-systematically-and-willfully/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Despite being briefed about the ongoing terrorist attack at the Benghazi facility very soon after it began, the president took no meaningful action as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/despite-being-briefed-about-the-ongoing-terrorist-attack-at-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [The idea that we cause harm by doing what we perceive to be the right thing, that's another theme that interests me. Because most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-idea-that-we-cause-harm-by-doing-what-we-perceive-to-be-the-right/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [It's embarrassing, isn't it? It took me 15 years to make an 18-minute movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/it-s-embarrassing-isn-t-it-it-took-me-15-years-to-make-an-18-minute/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“As a federal district court in Texas recently ruled, federal law “mandates the initiation of immigration removal proceedings whenever an immigration officer encounters an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/as-a-federal-district-court-in-texas-recently-ruled-federal-law/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) [Explore all 115 Andrew McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) ## More Separation of powers quotes > [My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-construction-of-the-constitution-is-very-different-from-that-you/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I believe in the separation of powers. If a judge crosses the line between interpreting and making the law, he has crossed the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-powers-if-a-judge-crosses-the-line/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [It is the lawyers who run our civilization for us -- our governments, our business, our private lives. Most legislators are lawyers; they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rodell/it-is-the-lawyers-who-run-our-civilization-for-us-our-governments-our/) [Fred Rodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rodell/) > [ It is one thing to be subordinate to the laws, and another \[for the Executive\] to be dependent on the legislative body. The first… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-one-thing-to-be-subordinate-to-the-laws-and-another-for-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-spirit-of-encroachment-tends-to-consolidate-the-powers-of-all-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It was the separation of powers upon which the framers placed their hopes for the preservation of the people's liberties. Despite this heritage, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/it-was-the-separation-of-powers-upon-which-the-framers-placed-their/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [But as the plan of the convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/but-as-the-plan-of-the-convention-aims-only-at-a-partial-union-or/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [I rise in support of the separation of powers as established by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. The Constitution clearly delegates the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/i-rise-in-support-of-the-separation-of-powers-as-established-by-our/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [“Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion and you allow him to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/allow-the-president-to-invade-a-neighboring-nation-whenever-he-shall-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Louisville, KY - Barack Obama lost Kentucky in 2012 by 23 points, yet the state remains closely divided about re-electing the man whose parliamentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/louisville-ky-barack-obama-lost-kentucky-in-2012-by-23-points-yet-the/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/the-supreme-court-is-the-last-line-of-defense-for-the-separation-of/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [“In a recurring theme among progressives, Croly condemned the Constitution’s separation of powers, a doctrine essential to averting centralized tyranny, as the main obstacle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-r-levin/in-a-recurring-theme-among-progressives-croly-condemned-the/) [Mark R. Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-r-levin/) > [ \[T\]o preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which that \[the Constitution\] has established… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/t-o-preserve-the-republican-form-and-principles-of-our-constitution/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 97 Separation of powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-powers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do Americans still broadly believe that a president’s gradual assumption of dictatorial power must be halted? That the constitutional equilibrium of divided authorities balancing and checking each other must be preserved? That their liberty hinges on the separation of powers?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that-a-president-s-gradual/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Separation of powers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that-a-president-s-gradual/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/andrew-mccarthy-4162_separation-of-powers_do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that_2339090.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do Americans still broadly believe that a president’s gradual assumption of dictatorial power must be…” — Andrew McCarthy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Do Americans still broadly believe that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that-a-president-s-gradual/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/do-americans-still-broadly-believe-that-a-president-s-gradual/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```