⚖️ Series Introduction: The Founders vs. the Unitary Executive

Why This Series Matters

The balance of power between Congress, the President, and the Courts is the heartbeat of our republic. Today, the unitary executive theory claims sweeping presidential authority over the administrative state. But this doctrine is not what the Founders intended.

This series dramatizes the Founders’ voices — Madison, Hamilton, Jefferson — alongside the 1789 Removal Debate, Congress’s oversight tradition, and the modern reinterpretation of Article II. Together, these posts show how the Founders built a system of mutual restraint, and how today’s theory distorts that design.

The Six Posts

1. Madison’s Fear of Legislative Tyranny — Congress predominates, oversight is the safeguard.

2. Hamilton’s Call for Energy in the Executive — Vigor and decisiveness, but always bounded by accountability.

3. Jefferson’s Warning Against Concentrated Power — Liberty falters when one man holds too much sway.

4. The 1789 Removal Debate — Ambiguity left unresolved, a hedge against tyranny.

5. Oversight as the People’s Voice — Hearings, appropriations, and impeachment as living checks.

6. The Modern Betrayal — Courts reinterpret Article II, concentrating power in ways the Founders never intended.

The Timeline

Alongside these posts, the symbolic timeline card shows the tug-of-war across centuries:

• 1787: Founders’ debates on balance.

• 1789: Removal ambiguity.

• 19th century: Oversight traditions.

• 20th century: Rise of independent agencies.

• Modern era: Expansion of the unitary executive theory.

This series is not just history — it’s a call to action. The Founders built a republic where ambition counteracts ambition and oversight is the people’s safeguard. To reclaim their vision, we must resist concentrated executive power and restore Congress’s voice.