Ep. 264 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Jon Schaff | The Power of the Purse: Congress's Constitutional Power to Control Government Spending

In Federalist 30, published in 1787, Alexander Hamilton explains the separation of powers as the executive branch having the power of the sword and the legislative branch having the power of the purse.  A functioning government needs to be able to enforce law and wage but also has to be able to raise and spend appropriate money.  This creates an incredibly effective check on both of those branches as one cannot function without the other.  To dive further into this special governmental check we are pleased to welcome back last week's guest Dr. Jon Schaff, Professor of Government/Director of the Center for Public History and Civic Engagement at Northern University in South Dakota.