--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In short, it is remarkably difficult to…" description: "\"“In short, it is remarkably difficult to find instances in nineteenth-century federal law in which the executive offered relief to anyone in the rest o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/philip-hamburger-28176_congress_in-short-it-is-remarkably-difficult-to-f_3159594.jpg" --- # In short, it is remarkably difficult to find instances in… ![“In short, it is remarkably difficult to find instances in nineteenth-century federal law in which the executive offered relief to anyone in the rest of the public from the legal duties that directly bound them. Toward the end of the century, there were hints of changing views, but in an era in…” quote by Philip Hamburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/philip-hamburger-28176_congress_in-short-it-is-remarkably-difficult-to-f_3159594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/philip-hamburger-28176_congress_in-short-it-is-remarkably-difficult-to-f_3159594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/philip-hamburger-28176_congress_in-short-it-is-remarkably-difficult-to-f_3159594.jpg) > ““In short, it is remarkably difficult to find instances in nineteenth-century federal law in which the executive offered relief to anyone in the rest of the public from the legal duties that directly bound them. Toward the end of the century, there were hints of changing views, but in an era in which the English dispensing power, and the constitutional rejection of it, were still understood, it is no surprise that Congress apparently did not authorize any such power.”” [Philip Hamburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hamburger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, the U.S. executive rarely intervened to relieve citizens from legal duties, reflecting a strong separation of powers and limited governmental relief. **In simple terms:** Executive rarely eases legal duties for citizens. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of executive power. Themes law government separation of powers Mood analytical cautious Type scholarly critical When to use this quote - policy drafting - civil rights advocacy - legal reform - public administration Key Concepts constitutional restraint federalism executive authority Questions to Reflect On - Should the executive have broader relief powers? - How does historical restraint affect today’s governance? A Different Perspective Modern crises may demand more executive flexibility, challenging historic restraint. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ## Related quotes > [Dispensing is Power !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/dispensing-is-power/) MLY AB > [The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-people-are-the-only-legitimate-fountain-of-power-and-it-is-from/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/as-the-people-are-the-only-legitimate-fountain-of-power-and-it-is/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Federal law, implemented by the Federal Communications Commission, helped kill network broadcasts of Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny and their modern equivalents, while effectively issuing do-not-resuscitate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/federal-law-implemented-by-the-federal-communications-commission/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [“significant component of the federal law of tax-exempt organizations is the body of”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/significant-component-of-the-federal-law-of-tax-exempt-organizations-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Federal law should hold organizations like the League of Women Voters harmless if they make good-faith mistakes while registering people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/federal-law-should-hold-organizations-like-the-league-of-women-voters/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [It (marijuana) will still be legal under federal law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/it-marijuana-will-still-be-legal-under-federal-law/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [Noncompetes are the type of restriction that Section 5 of the F.T.C. 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It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts ## More by Philip Hamburger > [“On behalf of the deference under the Administrative Procedure Act, it is said that Congress is not constitutionally barred from authorizing deference—as if Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hamburger/on-behalf-of-the-deference-under-the-administrative-procedure-act-it/) [Philip Hamburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hamburger/) > [“By the same token, the executive cannot exercise legislative power, even if it has legislative authorization, for when it acts alone, it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hamburger/by-the-same-token-the-executive-cannot-exercise-legislative-power/) [Philip Hamburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hamburger/) > [“Indeed, they embraced a tradition that was notorious for its incompatibility with American law and liberty. 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