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Two details of liberty are clearly understood by a free
people:
1)
The difference between vertical separation of
powers and horizontal separation of powers
2)
The difference between checks and balances
When the regular people don't understand these kind of
freedom nuances, freedom is truly in jeopardy.
Horizontal separations of power are the different powers
given to branches of government at the same level, such as the judicial power
in the Supreme Court, the executive powers in the Presidency, and the
legislative powers divided between the House and the Senate.
Each branch gets
its freedom independently from the Constitution, and each branch is its own
highest power.
The same kind of horizontal separations of power ideally occur
at the state level, and also at local levels.
Vertical separations of power are those that are held
separately by the levels of government.
For example, the U.S. Constitution
gives the federal government 20 powers (Article 1, section 8) and reserves all
other powers to the states or people (Amendments 9-10).
The federal government
isn't legitimately allowed to do anything beyond the powers outlined in the
Constitution, and each level of government is separate and independent from the
other levels as outlined in the federal and state constitutions.
Note that vertical separation of power is just as important
as horizontal separations.
In our day, unfortunately, they are not usually
treated with the same deference.
This is ultimately the fault of the people.
If we don't understand the nuances of freedom, we can do
little to maintain our liberty.
(The difference
between checks and balances will be addressed in another daily email.)
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Social Leader Daily by Oliver DeMille
