"It is the union of independence and dependence of these branches - legislative, executive and judicial - and of the governmental functions possessed by each of them, that constitutes the marvellous genius of this unrivalled document"
About this Quote
The diction matters. Clark doesn’t say the branches are merely "separate". He stresses the "governmental functions possessed by each of them", gesturing at overlap and shared tools rather than clean boundaries. That’s an implicit defense of checks and balances as a living mechanism, not a museum diagram: the executive executes but also shapes law through administration; courts interpret but also effectively set policy; legislators legislate but also investigate and constrain. He’s praising the interlock, not pretending purity.
Context sharpens the intent. Writing as a clergyman-statesman in the early 20th-century American tradition that treated the Constitution with near-scriptural reverence, Clark’s "unrivalled document" language functions like civic theology. The subtext: stability comes from disciplined restraint, not from a single branch "winning". In an era of expanding federal power and modern bureaucracy, this is also a reassurance that complexity isn’t a bug. It’s the safeguard.
Quote Details
| Topic | Justice |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Clark, J. Reuben. (2026, January 16). It is the union of independence and dependence of these branches - legislative, executive and judicial - and of the governmental functions possessed by each of them, that constitutes the marvellous genius of this unrivalled document. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-the-union-of-independence-and-dependence-of-91451/
Chicago Style
Clark, J. Reuben. "It is the union of independence and dependence of these branches - legislative, executive and judicial - and of the governmental functions possessed by each of them, that constitutes the marvellous genius of this unrivalled document." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-the-union-of-independence-and-dependence-of-91451/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"It is the union of independence and dependence of these branches - legislative, executive and judicial - and of the governmental functions possessed by each of them, that constitutes the marvellous genius of this unrivalled document." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-the-union-of-independence-and-dependence-of-91451/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
