Professor Ed Larson, "Unchecked Power at the Border" -- The Hill

Professor Edward J. Larson's opinion piece, "Unchecked Power at the Border," has been published in The Hill. The article considers the possible diversion of funds from defense spending appropriated by Congress to border wall construction.

Excerpt from "Unchecked Power at the Border"

In the wise conception of the Founders, the protection of freedom and liberty in the Constitution is rooted in checks and balances. The critical separation of powers, they firmly believed, would best prevent tyranny. "All single governments are tyrannies," Franklin warned, beginning with governments "lodged in one man." Even the Constitution, he cautioned, would "end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government."

Washington also felt the same way. Checks and balances would preserve freedom and liberty only "so long as there shall remain any virtue in the body of the people," he observed.

The complete article may be found here