Constitution Quote by Philip Hamburger
““And already here the danger should be evident—that government has returned to the era before constitutions, when kings or executives ruled not through law but outside it. A return to a preconstitutional era of prerogative power may not seem worrisome, for like its predecessor, administrative power often seems benign. The peril of administrative power, however, lies not in its potential for good, but in its potential for danger by unraveling government through law.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Constitutional Law, 2015
Government power can become dangerous when it operates outside constitutional limits, even if it appears benign.
In simple terms: Unchecked administrative power can erode law.
Key Takeaway
Guard against overreach.
Themes
government
law
power
danger
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- legal reforms
- public administration
- civil society
Key Concepts
constitutionalism
administrative law
prerogative power
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards protect against administrative overreach?
- How can citizens hold such power accountable?
A Different Perspective
Even benign power can become harmful if unchecked.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
