Constitution Quote by Thomas Jefferson

“You seem to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place…

— Thomas Jefferson

This [the U.S. Constitution] is likely to be administered for a course of years and then end in despotism... when the people shall become…

— Benjamin Franklin

If they are incorporated into the Constitution, independent tribunals of justice will consider themselves in a peculiar manner the guardians of those rights; they…

— James Madison

On any other hypothesis, the delegation of judicial power would annul the authority delegating it; and the concurrence of this department with the others…

— James Madison

The trial by jury might safely be introduced into a despotic government, if the jury were to exercise no right of judging of the…

— Lysander Spooner

A good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot.

— Anonymous

No punishment has ever possessed enough power of deterrence to prevent the commission of crimes.

— Hannah Arendt

The judiciary is the only institution in the country which remains totally unaccountable. There is no institution with disciplinary powers over the judiciary.

— Prashant Bhushan

To consider judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions is a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under…

— Thomas Jefferson

If, then, the courts of justice are to be considered as the bulwarks of a limited Constitution against legislative encroachments, this consideration will afford…

— Alexander Hamilton

Even the most despotic government cannot stand except for the consent of the governed.... Immediately the subject ceases to fear the despotic force, his…

— Mahatma Gandhi

If everyone charged with crimes suddenly exercised his constitutional rights, there would not be enough judges, lawyers, or prison cells to deal with the…

— Michelle Alexander