--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It bothers me that the executive branch…" description: "\"It bothers me that the executive branch is taking the amazing position that just on the president's say-so, any American citizen can be picked up, not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/laurence-tribe-32095_access_it-bothers-me-that-the-executive-branch_1391877.jpg" --- # It bothers me that the executive branch is taking the… ![“It bothers me that the executive branch is taking the amazing position that just on the president's say-so, any American citizen can be picked up, not just in Afghanistan, but at O'Hare Airport or on the streets of any city in this country, and locked up without access to a lawyer or court just…” quote by Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/laurence-tribe-32095_access_it-bothers-me-that-the-executive-branch_1391877.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/laurence-tribe-32095_access_it-bothers-me-that-the-executive-branch_1391877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/laurence-tribe-32095_access_it-bothers-me-that-the-executive-branch_1391877.jpg) > “It bothers me that the executive branch is taking the amazing position that just on the president's say-so, any American citizen can be picked up, not just in Afghanistan, but at O'Hare Airport or on the streets of any city in this country, and locked up without access to a lawyer or court just because the government says he's connected somehow with the Taliban or Al Qaeda. That's not the American way. It's not the constitutional way.” [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes the executive overreach that allows detention without due process based solely on presidential authority, arguing it violates constitutional protections. **In simple terms:** Executive power can bypass legal rights, violating the Constitution. Key Takeaway Demand adherence to constitutional due process. Themes civil liberties government power due process constitutional law Mood concerned critical defensive Type political legal advocacy When to use this quote - legal advocacy - policy reform - public awareness - judicial challenges Key Concepts rule of law executive overreach civil rights Questions to Reflect On - How should courts limit executive detention powers? - What safeguards protect citizens from unlawful arrests? A Different Perspective The president's authority is limited by the Constitution, and checks are needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Airports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airports/) [Al qaeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al-qaeda/) [Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/als/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [Bother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother/) [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Connected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connected/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Executive branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-branch/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Hares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hares/) [Just Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-afghanistan-4853952/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Locked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locked/) [Locked up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locked-up/) [Ny City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ny-city/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Qaeda American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qaeda-american-3584369/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Taliban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taliban/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Constitutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-constitutional-4853953/) ## Related quotes > [The first thing to recognize not just about Afghanistan but about any poor undeveloped country is that as big as it looks on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-kaplan/the-first-thing-to-recognize-not-just-about-afghanistan-but-about-any/) [Robert D. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-kaplan/) > [There is an irony that the most active anti-gay groups are Al-Qaeda and the American Right wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/there-is-an-irony-that-the-most-active-anti-gay-groups-are-al-qaeda/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [The Supreme Court must serve as an independent check on abuses by the executive branch and the protector of our liberties, not a cheerleader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-supreme-court-must-serve-as-an-independent-check-on-abuses-by-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [To be at the apex of the executive branch and understand that there are lot of moving pieces and the importance of working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-stefanik/to-be-at-the-apex-of-the-executive-branch-and-understand-that-there/) [Elise Stefanik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-stefanik/) > [There's a lot of bipartisan rancor, a lot of excessive delegation of legislative power from the legislative branch to the executive branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lee/there-s-a-lot-of-bipartisan-rancor-a-lot-of-excessive-delegation-of/) [Mike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lee/) > [I've been in the legislative branch and now the executive branch and in each case I felt it was important we use our constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-engler/i-ve-been-in-the-legislative-branch-and-now-the-executive-branch-and/) [John Engler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-engler/) > [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/) > [The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-constitution-supposes-what-the-history-of-all-governments/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [As a dad, you are the Vice President of the executive branch of parenting. It doesn't matter what your personality is like, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/as-a-dad-you-are-the-vice-president-of-the-executive-branch-of/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [The executive branch maneuvered this result deftly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/the-executive-branch-maneuvered-this-result-deftly/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [I have a duty to protect the Executive Branch from legislative encroachment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-have-a-duty-to-protect-the-executive-branch-from-legislative/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“As a dad, you are Vice President. You are part of the Executive Branch of the family, but you are the partner with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/as-a-dad-you-are-vice-president-you-are-part-of-the-executive-branch/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [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/) > [I do think it's true that a huge amount of the oversight that the White House engages in with respect to the Executive Branch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/i-do-think-it-s-true-that-a-huge-amount-of-the-oversight-that-the/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Laurence Tribe > [Even those who, like me, believe that Roe v. Wade and the decisions elaborating on reproductive rights were constitutionally correct must recognize that, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/even-those-who-like-me-believe-that-roe-v-wade-and-the-decisions/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [There are a lot of things that fit on a bumper sticker in terms of either liberty or equality or progress that when made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-fit-on-a-bumper-sticker-in-terms-of/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The federal government may not disarm individual citizens without some unusually strong justification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/the-federal-government-may-not-disarm-individual-citizens-without/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [We need to do something about the culture of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/we-need-to-do-something-about-the-culture-of-violence/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [An excess of law inescapably weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/an-excess-of-law-inescapably-weakens-the-rule-of-law/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [Nothing in the 14th Amendment or in any other constitutional provision suggests that the president may usurp legislative power to prevent a violation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/nothing-in-the-14th-amendment-or-in-any-other-constitutional/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [Trust is not what the framers of the United States constitution and of this country relied on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/trust-is-not-what-the-framers-of-the-united-states-constitution-and/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [ \[The Bill of Rights is\] designed to protect individuals and minorities against the tyranny of the majority, but it's also designed to protect the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/the-bill-of-rights-is-designed-to-protect-individuals-and-minorities/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [ One of the most extraordinary examples in recent decades \[of unitary visions of constitutional enterprise\] is found in a book called "Takings"... Epstein makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/one-of-the-most-extraordinary-examples-in-recent-decades-of-unitary/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The only way the avoid a constitution crisis, and I'm not saying we're there yet, is to reassure the public that the person leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/the-only-way-the-avoid-a-constitution-crisis-and-i-m-not-saying-we-re/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The Constitution grants only Congress - not the president - the power 'to borrow money on the credit of the United States.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/the-constitution-grants-only-congress-not-the-president-the-power-to/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [Of course the president Donald Trump said he wants to get to the truth. He always says that. But I think we all know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/of-course-the-president-donald-trump-said-he-wants-to-get-to-the/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [I do not have, nor do I believe I have seen, a vision capacious and convincing enough to propound as an organizing principle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/i-do-not-have-nor-do-i-believe-i-have-seen-a-vision-capacious-and/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The Second Amendment does protect the right to people to possess weapons for self-defense in the home. That's what the Supreme Court said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/the-second-amendment-does-protect-the-right-to-people-to-possess/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The whole country needs to get to the bottom of what really happened with the Russian collusion allegations. But in the meantime, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/the-whole-country-needs-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-what-really-happened/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) [Explore all 16 Laurence Tribe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) ## More Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) [Andrew Nikiforuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-nikiforuk/) > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. 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That's not the American way. 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