President Donald Trump’s actions in his first three weeks in office have raised questions about the limits of presidential power and the effectiveness of the checks and balances put in place by the Constitution. From controversial executive orders to dismantling government agencies, Trump has been testing the boundaries established by Congress and the courts.
The Constitution outlines a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. Congress is meant to provide a check on the president’s power through the legislative process, while the courts have the authority to determine the constitutionality of executive actions.
In the case of President Trump, Congress has the ability to pass legislation that limits or undermines his authority. However, with a Republican-controlled Congress, there may be challenges in holding the president accountable for his actions. The courts, on the other hand, can strike down executive orders or actions that they deem unconstitutional. This has already happened with some of Trump’s policies, such as his travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries.
The question now is, when does the push and pull between the branches of government become a constitutional crisis? If President Trump continues to push the boundaries of his power and ignore the checks and balances put in place, it could lead to a crisis that threatens the very foundation of our democracy.
As the Wall Street Journal explores in its video, it is important to closely monitor how the system of checks and balances is working (or not working) in the current political climate. With the possibility of more agencies being dismantled and more controversial policies being enacted, the strength of our democratic institutions will be put to the test.
Watch the video by The Wall Street Journal
Video “Trump Is Testing Checks and Balances. When Is It a Constitutional Crisis? | WSJ” was uploaded on 02/11/2025 to Youtube Channel The Wall Street Journal