--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're the only branch of government that…" description: "\"We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time it makes a decision.\" — Byron White" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg" --- # We're the only branch of government that explains itself… ![“We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time it makes a decision.” quote by Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg) > “We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time it makes a decision.” [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The judiciary must justify its decisions in writing, unlike other branches that act without detailed explanation. **In simple terms:** Judges explain decisions in writing. Key Takeaway Write clear reasons for decisions. Themes law transparency accountability Mood reflective formal Type legal institutional When to use this quote - court rulings - policy debates - legal education Key Concepts judicial reasoning public trust Questions to Reflect On - How does written explanation affect public trust? - Can brevity improve clarity? A Different Perspective Writing may be constrained by legal jargon and length. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time itmakes a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[The judiciary is\] the least dangerous branch of our government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bickel/the-judiciary-is-the-least-dangerous-branch-of-our-government/) Alexander Bickel > [For students, understanding the separate and unique functions of each branch of government can help them understand how different kinds of government officials can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/for-students-understanding-the-separate-and-unique-functions-of-each/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [Thank God for some Republican control of one branch of the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/thank-god-for-some-republican-control-of-one-branch-of-the-government/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [“According to the Constitution as ratified, the legislature was to be the most powerful and important branch of government. Jefferson echoed this theme in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-t-mcclanahan/according-to-the-constitution-as-ratified-the-legislature-was-to-be/) [Brion T. McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-t-mcclanahan/) > [“What a place! What a situation! What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-a-place-what-a-situation-what-kind-of-man-would-put-a-known/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Traditionally, in America, we have accountability as kind of a key feature of each branch of government in some way. So, you know, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/traditionally-in-america-we-have-accountability-as-kind-of-a-key/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [I think the Supreme Court has, as an equal branch of government, the ability to overrule Congress and the president. But I also feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/i-think-the-supreme-court-has-as-an-equal-branch-of-government-the/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [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/) > [One faction of one party, in one house of Congress, in one branch of government, doesn't get to shut down the entire government just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-faction-of-one-party-in-one-house-of-congress-in-one-branch-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Congress is a co-equal branch of government, with a long and rich history of standing up to the executive branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sykes/congress-is-a-co-equal-branch-of-government-with-a-long-and-rich/) [Charlie Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sykes/) > [Congress is the third branch of government... which makes every one of the 535 members of Congress 1/535th of that important one-third, which works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-pruden/congress-is-the-third-branch-of-government-which-makes-every-one-of/) [Wesley Pruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-pruden/) > [I'm seeing too much power being concentrated in the executive branch, and so our system of government is really in jeopardy, and more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/i-m-seeing-too-much-power-being-concentrated-in-the-executive-branch/) [Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/) > [The founders had a strong distrust for centralized power in a federal government. So they created a government with checks and balances. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-founders-had-a-strong-distrust-for-centralized-power-in-a-federal/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## More by Byron White > [We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time itmakes a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The Court is most vulnerable and comes nearest to illegitimacy when it deals with judge-made constitutional law having little or no cognizable roots in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-court-is-most-vulnerable-and-comes-nearest-to-illegitimacy-when/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The law is constantly based on notions of morality, and if all laws representing essentially moral choices are to be invalidated under the due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-law-is-constantly-based-on-notions-of-morality-and-if-all-laws/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The Court is most vulnerable and comes nearest to illegitimacy when it deals with judge-made constitutional law having little or no cognizable roots in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-court-is-most-vulnerable-and-comes-nearest-to-illegitimacy-when-2/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [While the collateral consequences of drugs such as cocaine are indisputably severe, they are not unlike those which flow from the misuse of other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/while-the-collateral-consequences-of-drugs-such-as-cocaine-are/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The issue presented is whether the Federal Constitution confers a fundamental right upon homosexuals to engage in sodomy, and hence invalidates the laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-issue-presented-is-whether-the-federal-constitution-confers-a/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [When the whistle blows you have only a limited amount of time to do what you have to do. You either do it then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/when-the-whistle-blows-you-have-only-a-limited-amount-of-time-to-do/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Sports constantly make demands on the participant for top performance, and they develop integrity, self-reliance and initiative. They teach you a lot about working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/sports-constantly-make-demands-on-the-participant-for-top-performance/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Maintaining order in the classrooms has never been easy and it is evident that the school setting requires some easing of the restrictions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/maintaining-order-in-the-classrooms-has-never-been-easy-and-it-is/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Respondent would have us announce a fundamental right to engage in homosexual sodomy. This we are quite unwilling to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/respondent-would-have-us-announce-a-fundamental-right-to-engage-in/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The 1st Amendment protects the right to speak, not the right to spend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-1st-amendment-protects-the-right-to-speak-not-the-right-to-spend/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [It is not better that all felony suspects die than that they escape. Where the suspect poses no immediate threat to the officer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/it-is-not-better-that-all-felony-suspects-die-than-that-they-escape/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [As an exercise of raw judicial power, the Court perhaps has authority to do what it does today; but, in my view, its judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/as-an-exercise-of-raw-judicial-power-the-court-perhaps-has-authority/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The role of the judge is simply to decide cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-role-of-the-judge-is-simply-to-decide-cases/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The risk of racial prejudice infecting a capital sentencing proceeding is especially serious in light of the complete finality of the death sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-risk-of-racial-prejudice-infecting-a-capital-sentencing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) [Explore all 19 Byron White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time it makes a decision.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Byron White" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/byron-white-28291_government_we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that_1982342.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time it makes a decision.” — Byron White", "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": "Byron White", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're the only branch of government...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing-2/#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 } } ] } ```