‘Slipping into the clutches of an authoritarian’: Trump’s potential defiance of Supreme Court could lead to a full-blown constitutional crisis

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In this winter of political uneasiness, it is important to look back on Articles I, II and III of the United States Constitution.

High school civics class taught us that the first three articles of the Constitution established the structure of America’s government. Congress, the legislative branch, makes the laws of the United States; the Supreme Court — the judicial — interprets the laws; and the president — the executive — enforces the laws.

Each of the branches are coequal and provide a system of checks and balances. The Framers created this system to ensure that no branch becomes dominant. Each branch of government is vested with the ability to respond to the actions of the others.

The president can veto legislation created by Congress, as well as nominate heads of federal agencies and Supreme Court appointees. Congress confirms or rejects the president’s nominees. It can also remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.

The justices of the Supreme Court, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, can overturn unconstitutional laws.

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