The Constitution of the United States lays out a complex scheme of governance that has mostly worked for the 237 years since it became effective with the ratification of the ninth state, New Hampshire , in 1788.

There have been exceptions, of course. Abraham Lincoln took extraordinary steps to quell the rebellion of eleven Southern states. Franklin Roosevelt disregarded judicial precedent and daily reset the price of gold by whim.

Recommended Stories

DHS and ICE deserve praise for arresting 5,000 illegal migrants in Los Angeles

GOP scores a quality candidate for Michigan's 10th District

For frantic Democrats, Trump bashing is the only game in town

President Donald Trump , in his second term, has been doing something like the same thing by employing threats of actions outs

See Full Page