A recent study says we have 2000 federal agencies, departments and commissions – although they are not sure. Is that not government beyond control? What would our Founders say? See, The Organization of the Bureaucracy [ushistory.org].
Interestingly, the first thing they would say is that power without limit is tyranny. On this, they all agreed. If limits are not imposed, government is soon oppressive.
“Our Constitution is an instrument for the people to restrain the government,” wrote Patrick Henry. If one branch dominates, oppression follows. Wrote Madison, “Wherever the real power in a government lies, there is the danger of oppression.”
Nor are assaults on liberty – by bureaucrats or others – always noisy. Sometimes they are quiet. Rights are taken, authorities asserted, money spent imperceptibly.
Warned Madison, “I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”
If this be so, what about the huge, forever-expanding federal bureaucracy? The three branches may check each other, but who checks the bureaucrats? Accountability vanishes if not asserted. So, who checks the federal bureaucracy?
Can we say Congress? No, as Congress is often ideologically aligned with spendthrift agencies, empowering them for personal agendas. Judiciary? No, since many on the federal bench are unapologetically, ideologically pro-big government.
And when the Executive branch is in the hands of those favoring bigger government, consolidating power, will that president limit bureaucrats? No.
So, what should we be watching out for? Founders were clear. Beware any accumulation of power – alignment in the same hands – including by bureaucrats.
Wrote Madison again: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” There is the warning: Look for unaccountable power.
Thus, an unchecked bureaucracy – empowered though years of one-party government – able to spend, mandate, overreach, with no meaningful oversight – signals public corruption and a need for fundamental review and remaking.
Notably, control over the federal bureaucracy by states is largely amputated – along with control by people, other than via elections – when courts get politicized.
In Federalist 45, Madison wrote: “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”
This is why our Founders gave us the 10th Amendment, which reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Citing that Amendment, Jefferson wrote in 1791, “To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, not longer susceptible of any definition.”
Chiming in, Madison wrote: “The general government is not to be charged with the whole power of making and administering laws: its jurisdiction is limited to certain enumerated objects, which concern all the members of the republic…”
Putting a fine point on it, Madison said in Federalist 84: “An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.” Instead, they fought for a government “in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies … as that no one could transcend their legal limits …”
So, what would our Founding Fathers say, seeing an unlimited bureaucracy being checked by President Trump, using Article II powers to restore it to “limited?”
They are applauding. They would say, as Jefferson did in 1801: “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned — this is the sum of good government.” Or just “Well done, Mr. Trump!”
RBC, bravo on an excellent piece. The government has been expanding for some time now without any controlling authority. Pres. Trump is reigning in the government for fraud, waste and abuse as the nation sees the Left/Demos pulling out all the stops in the court system to delay or overturn his executive orders to maintain the control of power over the government. If this does not wake up the voting public now, then the nation will continue to be in trouble and continue the slide downhill.
RBC,
Excellent article! Yes, all President Trump is doing is restoring the constitutional integrity and limits of the federal government. The American people have to pay very close attention to those that are objecting so vocally to this action by the President, because what they are really upset about is the diminishment of their own personal power and influence to enrich themselves at the expense of the average American.
Excellent article RBC – stopping tyranny should be thought of as a responsibility to undertake by citizens at all levels .First thing to be done is to recognize what is the method being used to interfere with Liberty. Then act accordingly – the opinions of the Presidents referred to in this article provide insight on the right form of response. President Trump is acting appropriately . Insight and outsight are needed in identifying the kind of strategy being used by the proponents of tyranny depending on the circumstances. This is another great example of the value of history applied in the right place, at the right time ,for the right reasons. Every citizen should have a clear understanding of how bureaucracy should and should not function in order to respect Liberty.
This article should be taught in every school in this country.
I’m starting to question my reality: they SAY we’re “free” but are we really? Look at all the COVID crackdowns, the media misinformation, and the Cancel Culture. I think our freedom may be an illusion the Powers That Be allow us to have… like a dog off its leash at the park: are we really as free as we think?
Greetings. Herein amongst the responses is a great exercise of the first Amendment. Here in the article by Mr. Charles, it is good, practical thought. I cannot help but think how just approximately 12 years ago the immediate predecessor of President Trump 45 – Barrack Obama – was quoted – “But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will.” DId he do anything to make government frugal and ‘protect future generations?’ Did he stop wasteful government spending? Did he really deliver – E.g. was ACA a REAL boon or a BUST for numerous Americans? Did he really do anything for gun control? ETC. Instead of restraining the government, he became more intrusive into private lives and more costly. Under Obama’s administration, our withdrawal from Iraq, though not as DISASTROUS as our shameful leaving of Afghanistan, left them under the influence of the “JV” team (ISIS or as Obama called them ‘ISIL’) that was as or more evil than under Saddam. Etc. Where is the outcry from that period? I will NOT say much about his protege Biden. Both were Senators; both had numerous problems covered by the media, but also covered up (or ‘ignored?”). A friend on a social media platform, who has served in the Armed Forces under approximately seven administrations, cried, “{let the man do his job! stop being ready to put everything he does under a microscope when you have basically said very little about the problems of other administrations}.” Yes, give him a chance to streamline our government in the intent of the Founding Fathers and to reveal and to stop fraud, waste, abuse. And from what I see, President Trump is trying hard to do withing Constitutional bounds, and it looks like both houses of Congress are willing to work with him, despite the minority pushback. As God has put governments in control, we can pray for our leaders to do the right things. Romans 13 and Isaiah 55, v 6 – 9. Thank you. John 3, v 16
Great article! Thank you! This is exactly what Trump and Dogw are doing. Ridding of government of systems and policies that are taking BILLIONS from the mouth of labor! Kudos!
And James Madison wrote “The accumulation of all powers legislative,executive and judiciary in the same hands is definition of tyranny”… THE WARNING IS LOOK FOR UNACCOUNTABLE POWER. And this is warning from our founders & not applause !
Fabulous article, founding fathers could see what might and would happen had men were left unchecked and unopposed but I doubt they could imagine the size of the population and the mix of the languages that we became. Had they foresee that I am sure they would make English the official language to unify the country rather than splintering it by multi culti poison which is the aim of the game of the left. That is the reason they hate them and the Constitution .What do they have to offer instead, an experiment that is a proven looser.
Very good piece! Thank you!
The Supreme Court needs to announce, in very clear language, that whenever there is any kind of conflict between a duly passed state law, and any federal law, OR any Federal judicial decision, the State law ALWAYS wins. Power back to the states. Goodbye Federal bureaucrats.
I applaud EVERYTHING that this President is doing. The genie will hopefully NEVER go back in the bottle. More coming out against the catholic church and their world-wide sex trafficking ring supplied with unaccompanied minors coming mostly from South American, Zuckerberg continuing to fund far left NGOs, follow the MONEY!!! One thing became clear to me after listening to Judge Napolitano’s guest this weekend: DOGE needs to be cemented through CONGRESS, and ASAP. It would be horrible to get all the way to SCOTUS only to lose. His guest, a constitutional law scholar, was quite convincing that this MAY effort be unconstitutional. Meanwhile, get Impoundment back!
In my comment below, I forgot to attribute the quote from Obama ‘… I will.’ Although it could have been from numerous sources, I used the NPR article ‘Obama To Congress: With Or Without You’ 12 Feb. 2013, by Alan Greenblatt. Thank you. Proverbs 3, v 5 – 6.
Amen!
This is another accurate and informative article by Mr. Charles, on the danger of overreach by a party that continues to seek unlimited power. Because our “democrat” party is now, once more, attempting to diminish President Trump at the very beginning of his second term, even despite their own abyssmal performance during Biden’s unforgivable term, it is wise to question, and rebuke, this motley crew of thieves before they do any more damage.
GREAT history and spot on…I live in THEE most TYRANICAL state and have watched the take over of our rites s NEWSCUMB has employees his agenda to all his people including our supposedly attorney general
SAD state of affairs and seems to get worse by the day!
Great article Mr. Charles!
“Notably, control over the federal bureaucracy by states is largely amputated – along with control by people, other than via elections – when courts get politicized.”
Amputated in 1913 by the 16th and 17th amendments. The 16th created the greatest self imposed tyranny through taxation of personal income and the 7th took away the state’s representatives in the federal government.
Taxation of personal income is not about generating income for the feds, that’s just a benefit. It’s about control! In all circumstances, the government has the final hammer over your head with the IRS. Additionally, this is how the government gets loads of information about you, your possessions, and your activities. Trump has proffered the idea of getting rid of the IRS. I’m all in for that!
Senators were originally sent to office by state legislatures and were accountable by the same since they were the representatives in congress meant to protect state’s rights. Senators were easily (compared to the current process) replaced by that state legislature if they didn’t do the job of their constituent, the state.
Election of Senators by popular vote of the state electorate creates many problems, including the myth that states with large populations are under represented in the Senate since they have the same representation as low population states like Wyoming. Mark my word, The statists in the demonic party have their eye on changing this to their advantage as well.
If we truly want to get our bureaucracy and government under control, we need to repeal both the 16th ad 17th amendments. Otherwise: we’re just a bunch of subjects, not citizens.
oh yes! I clearly remember from middle school how often the Founding Fathers railed against the English beaurocracy and not against the English king!
Our Founders would not be “applauding” Donald Trump for literally ANYTHING. In fact, they created safeguards to curtail such things.
Have a question as I have read both of these words regarding reducing federal employees. The two words are employees FIRED or LAID OFF . What is the truth or or both methods being used ? There is a big difference in the two methods out here in the real working world. And I would like to add my opinion is “ONE OF THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO TO A PERSON IS TAKE THEIR JOB AWAY” without any explanaion or reasons. An Email is not a humane way to fire a person in my opinion.
The Founders would not celebrate Trump’s usurpation of Congressional powers, they would bemoan the failure of Congress to properly legislate. They would wonder how the critical faculties of so many Americans could be hoodwinked by a combination of social media, a 24 hour news/entertainment cycle and at least 50 years of government policies eroding the American middle-class. Certainly Congress needed to rein in government, but unless you believe that Trump’s autocratic solution can be used without permanently shifting our Republic toward a form of disguised monarchy, or unless perhaps you welcome that change, then the cure is worse than the disease. The current bureaucracy is not “unrestricted” – it is quite restricted. The regulations that protect us from bureaucratic overreach are part of why it’s inefficient and expensive. It is the executive branch that is increasingly unrestricted in its uses of power. The Founding generation would be astonished to learn that Congress is sitting and watching as the executive exerts extra-legal authority over the power of the purse. If the courts prove to be equally compliant then we will have shifted into an era of empire like Rome before us.