Affairs Quote by Dick Thornburgh
“The powers of government exercised locally derive from a federal law authorizing government by consent in local affairs only, unless those affairs are otherwise governed by federal law.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1995
Local governments act only under powers granted by federal law, unless a specific federal statute overrides them.
In simple terms: Local power comes from federal permission unless overridden.
Key Takeaway
Know the limits of local authority.
Themes
government
law
federalism
authority
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
informative
legal
When to use this quote
- city planning
- law enforcement
- public policy
- intergovernmental relations
Key Concepts
jurisdiction
delegation
legal hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- What powers should remain local?
- How can federal overreach be prevented?
A Different Perspective
Local autonomy can be constrained by vague federal statutes.
![“In Stage I, divorces were not allowed, so men's [sexual] affairs did not put women's economic security in jeopardy; in Stage II, affairs could lead to divorce, so men's affairs did place women's economic security in jeopardy. We did not want political leaders who would be role models for behavior…” quote by Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ff0/warren-farrell-1187_affair_in-stage-i-divorces-were-not-allowed-so_94551.jpg)
