"Loyalty of the law-making power to the executive power was one of the dangers the political fathers foretold"

Garet Garrett’s observation addresses the inherent risk in a political system where the legislative branch, entrusted with crafting the laws, aligns too closely with the interests of the executive authority. Such loyalty undermines the foundational principle of checks and balances, a structure carefully designed by those who shaped the United States government. The political fathers, figures like James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington, were acutely aware of the dangers of concentrated power. They anticipated that if lawmakers prioritized allegiance to the executive over their duty to represent the people and uphold the constitution, the very fabric of representative democracy would be threatened.

When legislatures become loyal to the executive, they risk becoming mere enablers rather than independent deliberative bodies. The separation of powers protects citizens from tyranny by ensuring that no single branch dominates the others. The legislative branch is supposed to act as both a creator of law and a watchdog over executive action, scrutinizing initiatives, authorizations, and appointments. When members of the legislature defer excessively or uncritically to executive wishes, whether out of party loyalty, fear, ambition, or political pressure, they abdicate this crucial responsibility.

Garrett is pointing out that such loyalty was not just a hypothetical issue, but one that the original architects of government saw as a genuine threat to liberty. If the law-making power becomes beholden to the executive, policies may be shaped less by debate and reason and more by executive fiat. This dynamic can erode public trust, stifle dissent, and foster an environment conducive to autocratic practices. Ultimately, the health of a constitutional republic depends on maintaining an adversarial but cooperative relationship between the branches, with lawmakers standing firm as a bulwark against undue influence from the executive. The warning remains salient: true liberty demands vigilance, independent judgment, and a steadfast commitment to the separation of powers.