U.S. Constitution: Sword and Purse

3 months ago
8

CONSTITUTION
The Sword and the Purse vs. Judges

How do the President and other executives defy the Bill of Rights, Supreme Court orders, and all of the other legal stuff that is supposed to be obeyed?

The answer is money and weapons. The judicial branch holds neither of these, unlike the executive and legislative branches. Once given funding from Congress, the President has society's resources for his weaponry, troops, police, prisons, et cetera. There is little a judicial opinion or the Bill of Rights can do to stop a corrupt executive with tanks, snipers, SWAT teams, and so on.

Lack of funding is what can stop a corrupt administration, not so much a judicial opinion or order.

Article 1, Section 7, U.S. Constitution: "All Bills for raising Revenue . . ."

Federalist 58:
"This power over the purse may, in fact, be regarded as the most complete and effectual weapon with which any constitution can arm the immediate representatives of the people, for obtaining a redress of every grievance, and for carrying into effect every just and salutary measure."
-- James Madison

Federalist 78:
"The Executive not only dispenses the honors, but holds the sword of the community. The legislature not only commands the purse, but prescribes the rules by which the duties and rights of every citizen are to be regulated. The judiciary, on the contrary, has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society; and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment . . ."
-- Alexander Hamilton

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