Constitutional Crisis: Who's In Charge of the Rule of Law?

In this episode of Exploring Prosperity, I relay the importance of my interview with Professor Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale, about a crucial constitutional crisis threatening America's future. His 2010 book "The Decline and Fall of the American Republic" predicted with chilling accuracy how expanding executive power would eclipse congressional oversight and undermine our three-branch system.When Thomas Jefferson was president, his staff was just two people. Today? The Executive Office employs 2,500. This transformation has created a vicious cycle where presidents wield unprecedented authority to reverse predecessors' policies, then extend those powers further. This pattern doesn't just weaken the rule of law—it fuels political polarization by eliminating incentives for legislative compromise.Ackerman explains how selective enforcement of immigration laws, student debt, and environmental regulations demonstrates executive overreach across administrations. The upcoming Supreme Court decisions on agency independence will test whether our system can restore constitutional balance.As each party feels justified in expanding executive power to "correct" opponents' perceived overreach, we risk entering a self-reinforcing spiral of institutional decay. This isn't partisan politics—it's about preserving the foundations that enable future prosperity. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertdewey3.substack.com/subscribe