Love of power
"…Passions and self-interest have more control over human conduct than policy, usefulness, or justice…Legislatures also feel rage, resentment, jealousy, avarice, and other violent emotion. A republic is influenced by the passions of the people governing it…" 6[9]*
"…The love of power may sometimes cause the legislature to encroach on other branches of the government." 73[8]
How do tyrants gain power?
. " … History teaches us that most men who have overturned the liberties of republics began their career by proclaiming their devotion to the people. They gain position by arousing people's prejudices and end as tyrants." 1[5]
How do emergencies lead to tyranny?
By now, most people have heard the following: "Never waste an emergency." The Federalist Papers talk about both the danger of government assuming unconstitutional powers during an emergency and the fact that "emergencies" can be created when they don't exist.
"…Legislative usurpations lead to the same tyranny as executive usurpations…
"In a representative republic, the chief executive’s power and term in office are limited. But legislators assume they have influence over the people and they fearlessly use their power. The people should take precautions against the ambition of the legislature." 48[5]
"… Tyranny more frequently grows out of the assumptions unconstitutional power that is needed in an emergency but is not included in a defective constitution, than out of the full exercise of the largest constitutional authorities." 20[18]
"…Every time a constitution is disobeyed, even if necessary, decreases the reverence that rulers should maintain towards it. And it creates a precedent for other breaches when a necessity does not exist or is less urgent." 25[10]
We can elect tyrants.
Just because someone is elected to office doesn't mean that they can't be a tyrant. Even a group of elected people can become tyrants.
" In Notes on the State of Virginia, page 195, Mr. Jefferson says that all of government's powers--legislative, executive, judiciary--revert to the legislative body. In a despotic government, the same people hold all of the government's powers. Having a group of people hold all the power is no better than if a single person holds it. One hundred and seventy-three despots are as oppressive as one." 48[8]
Laws that presage tyranny
"…Every law the House of Representatives passes will operate on the Representatives and their friends, as well as the society. This is another restraint on the power.
"This creates a strong bond and common interests between rulers and the people. Few governments have this feature. And without it, every government degenerates into tyranny…
"If the people of America ever tolerate a law that does not apply to legislators, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty." 57[12-13]
* All Federalist Paper quotes are from The Federalist Papers: Modern English Edition Two, available on my website and Amazon.com for $24.95 http://Mary.Webster.org
The United States Constitution: Annotated with the Federalist Papers in Modern English is also available on my website and Amazon.com for $24.95.
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We Will Never Forget, 12/8/1941, 9/12/2001
Mary E Webster