{"id":336,"date":"2026-01-05T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=336"},"modified":"2026-01-11T15:37:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T20:37:17","slug":"constitutional-crisis-or-executive-prerogative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/constitutional-crisis-or-executive-prerogative\/","title":{"rendered":"Constitutional crisis or executive prerogative?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:300\">How Trump\u2019s actions on due process, courts, elections and executive power stack up against our nation\u2019s founding document<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69efeb4daa749&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69efeb4daa749\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"920\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"474\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/constitutional-crisis-or-executive-prerogative\/signing-of-constitution-1900-howard_chandler_christy-artist\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"920,1024\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist\" data-image-description data-image-caption data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg 920w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist-270x300.jpg 270w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist-768x855.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px\"><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion of the Unit\u00aded States, \u201cThe Sign\u00ading\u201d by artist Howard Chan\u00addler Christy, cir\u00adca 1900. Cour\u00adtesy of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/pictures\/item\/2018756662\/\"> Library of Con\u00adgress<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By Mikay\u00adla Bun\u00adnell<br>UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWe the Peo\u00adple of the Unit\u00aded States, in Order to form a more per\u00adfect Union, estab\u00adlish Jus\u00adtice, insure domes\u00adtic Tran\u00adquil\u00adi\u00adty, pro\u00advide for the com\u00admon defence, pro\u00admote the gen\u00ader\u00adal Wel\u00adfare, and secure the Bless\u00adings of Lib\u00ader\u00adty to our\u00adselves and our Pos\u00adter\u00adi\u00adty, do ordain and estab\u00adlish this Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion for the Unit\u00aded States of Amer\u00adi\u00adca.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>- The Pre\u00adam\u00adble to the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The first year of Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s sec\u00adond term has been marked by an unprece\u00addent\u00aded num\u00adber of exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, depor\u00adta\u00adtions, Nation\u00adal Guard deploy\u00adments and for\u00adeign tar\u00adiffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each step of the way, the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion\u2019s actions have been met with protests and legal chal\u00adlenges, with crit\u00adics say\u00ading he is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/news\/civil-liberties\/how-trumps-attacks-on-democracy-put-the-constitution-at-risk\">putting the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion at risk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion, with its 27 amend\u00adments, is the supreme law of the Unit\u00aded States. It cre\u00adates the three branch\u00ades of gov\u00adern\u00adment, estab\u00adlish\u00ades the roles of each and the checks and bal\u00adances meant to keep them in their zones, lim\u00adits the pow\u00ader of the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment over states and estab\u00adlish\u00ades many rights and free\u00addoms for peo\u00adple in the U.S. (not just cit\u00adi\u00adzens).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong calls the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion a con\u00adtract between the states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re a fed\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtion of 50 sov\u00ader\u00adeign states joined togeth\u00ader by our con\u00adsent, and we del\u00ade\u00adgat\u00aded lim\u00adit\u00aded pow\u00aders to the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u2019s like the deal, the bar\u00adgain, the con\u00adtract, the covenant between the 50 of us\u2026 Don\u00adald Trump and his exceed\u00ading of his pow\u00aders is real\u00adly about his exceed\u00ading and the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00admen\u00adt\u2019s reach\u00ading beyond its pow\u00aders under the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion \u2014 basi\u00adcal\u00adly vio\u00adlat\u00ading&nbsp;the bar\u00adgain between the states, the fed\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has been accused of over\u00adstep\u00adping beyond the bounds of the exec\u00adu\u00adtive branch, threat\u00aden\u00ading the pow\u00ader of the leg\u00adisla\u00adtive and judi\u00adcial branch\u00ades in vio\u00adla\u00adtion of the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u2019s sep\u00ada\u00adra\u00adtion of pow\u00aders. It has also been crit\u00adi\u00adcized for vio\u00adlat\u00ading the prin\u00adci\u00adples of fed\u00ader\u00adal\u00adism that lim\u00adit the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00admen\u00adt\u2019s con\u00adtrol over states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are con\u00adcepts out\u00adlined in the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion. Click on each phrase to learn more about what the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion says on each top\u00adic and how the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion\u2019s actions com\u00adpare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:35%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-810fbbe0 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/executive-power\/\">EXECUTIVE POWER<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/the-national-guard\/\">NATIONAL GUARD<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/redistricting\/\">REDISTRICTING<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/due-process\/\">DUE PROCESS<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/impeachments\/\">IMPEACHMENT<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/elections\/\">ELECTIONS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/no-kings\/\">NO KINGS<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/courts\/\">COURTS<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/tariffs\/\">TARIFFS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Trump\u2019s actions on due process, courts, elec\u00adtions and exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader stack up against our nation\u2019s found\u00ading doc\u00adu\u00adment By Mikay\u00adla Bun\u00adnellUConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism \u201cWe the Peo\u00adple of the Unit\u00aded States, in Order to form a more per\u00adfect Union, estab\u00adlish Jus\u00adtice, insure domes\u00adtic Tran\u00adquil\u00adi\u00adty, pro\u00advide for the com\u00admon defence, pro\u00admote the gen\u00ader\u00adal Wel\u00adfare, and secure the Bless\u00adings [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1086,"featured_media":474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[176,1],"tags":[109,116,117,108,112,83,110,111,91,114,93,67,66,115,113,107],"class_list":["post-336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-constitution","category-executive-power","tag-article-1","tag-article-2","tag-article-3","tag-constitution","tag-courts","tag-due-process","tag-economy","tag-elections","tag-executive-power","tag-impeachment","tag-national-guard","tag-no-kings","tag-protests","tag-redistricting","tag-supreme-court","tag-tariffs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":363,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/elections\/","url_meta":{"origin":336,"position":0},"title":"Elections","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\"I Voted\" sticker from California's 2020 election. As the most populous state, California has the most electoral college votes at 54. Photo courtesy of @californiasos_ on Instagram Article 2, Section 1 sets up the electoral college \u2014 the process that actually elects the president, not the popular vote. \u00a0 There\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Constitution&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-California_Digital_I_Voted_Sticker_2020.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-California_Digital_I_Voted_Sticker_2020.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-California_Digital_I_Voted_Sticker_2020.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-California_Digital_I_Voted_Sticker_2020.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-California_Digital_I_Voted_Sticker_2020.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-California_Digital_I_Voted_Sticker_2020.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":372,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/tariffs\/","url_meta":{"origin":336,"position":1},"title":"Tariffs","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The parking lot of a Walmart grocery store. Consumer prices have been impacted by tariffs. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if President Trump's tariffs are constitutional. Photo by Connor Sharp. Article 1, Section 8\u00a0establishes that Congress can regulate commercial activity between the U.S. federal government and foreign nations, between\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Constitution&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-First3-grocery-ctore.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-First3-grocery-ctore.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-First3-grocery-ctore.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-First3-grocery-ctore.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-First3-grocery-ctore.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-First3-grocery-ctore.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":354,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/courts\/","url_meta":{"origin":336,"position":2},"title":"Courts","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Federal courts have the authority to hear cases having to do with the Constitution, federal laws and treaties. The courts also hear cases where the U.S. is a party. Two different articles in the Constitution create federal judgeships: Article 1\u00a0and Article 3.\u00a0 Article 3\u00a0establishes most judgeships, University of Connecticut political\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Constitution&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Hettinger.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Hettinger.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Hettinger.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Hettinger.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Hettinger.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Hettinger.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":370,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/the-national-guard\/","url_meta":{"origin":336,"position":3},"title":"The National Guard","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Guard in Washington DC on ..... President Donald Trump mobilized 800 National Guard troops to DC on Aug. 15, 2025 to support local law enforcement. Photo by Amanda J. Crawford. Article 2, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution designates the president as the commander-in-chief of the army and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Constitution&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC2-CRAWFORD.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC2-CRAWFORD.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC2-CRAWFORD.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC2-CRAWFORD.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC2-CRAWFORD.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC2-CRAWFORD.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":320,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/executive-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":336,"position":4},"title":"Executive Power","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The White House in Washington, DC, on Oct. 21, 2025. Article 2 of the Constitution establishes the office of the presidency, including pardoning powers. Photo by Lily Goldblatt. Article 2, Section 1, established the office of the presidency. The clause requires that the president and the executive branch \u201cfaithfully executes\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Constitution&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":347,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/due-process\/","url_meta":{"origin":336,"position":5},"title":"Due Process","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Connecticut ACLU Legal Director Dan Barrett at the University of Connecticut on Sept. 25, 2025. Barrett said that due process is an integral part of democracy. Photo by Elijah Polance. By Mikayla BunnellUConn Journalism The Fifth and 14th Amendments establish the right that no one in the U.S. shall be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Constitution&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgTa6m-5q","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1086"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1941,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336\/revisions\/1941"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}