Executive Power
The Rise of the Political Psychopath
Many years ago, a newspaper headline asked the question: “What’s the difference between a politician and a psychopath?” The answer, then and now, remains the same: None. There is no difference between psychopaths and politicians. Nor is there much of a difference...
We’ve Already Got a Dictator-in-Chief: How Absolute Power Corrupted the President
Once a dictator, always a dictator. Power-hungry, lawless and steadfast in its pursuit of authoritarian powers, the government does not voluntarily relinquish those powers once it acquires, uses and inevitably abuses them. Likewise, any presidential candidate...
Blackstone on Removal of Subordinate Magistrates
This is my fourth post in a series responding to Professor Jed Shugerman’s criticisms of originalist scholarship on Blackstone and removal power (here are part 1, part 2 and part 3). This post addresses what Blackstone said about removal of subordinate magistrates in...
Blackstone on Subordinate Magistrates
This is my third post in a series responding to Professor Jed Shugerman’s criticisms of originalist scholarship on Blackstone and executive removal power. The first two posts described Blackstone’s general account of the king’s executive power (part 1) and...