As Americans gather across the country this Independence Day for barbecues and fireworks, we honor the revolutionary spirit that gave birth to a nation grounded in freedom and rule of law. But amid celebrations, we must also reflect on a troubling reality: our system of checks and balances, intended to hold the powerful accountable, is under threat.
The Fourth of July marks the moment when a fledgling democracy declared independence from tyranny. This bold step wasn’t just about separating from a monarchy – it was about creating a new kind of government, grounded in the equality of all people and dedicated to protecting their fundamental rights. Barely a decade later, our new country ratified the Constitution to provide a framework for governing a nation under that vision.
The core of that framework is the system of Checks and Balances through which the three coequal branches of government check and counterbalance the power of the others. Yet, more and more we are seeing the erosion of this fundamental principle of American governance.
Most recently, for example, the Trump Administration has been harassing and prosecuting members of Congress who have been attempting to visit and inspect ICE facilities where migrants are being detained. These trends not only endanger democratic norms but also erode public trust in our institutions.
Legislative oversight is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect our democracy. It ensures that government remains transparent and responsive to the people, not the people in power. Oversight can bridge partisan divides, restore public trust, and affirm that no one – not even those at the highest levels of power – is above the law.
The fireworks this Fourth of July should remind us not only of battles fought centuries ago, but of the vigilance required today. Democracy was never promised – it was earned, and it must be continuously defended. As we honor the legacy of the American Revolution, it is essential that we recommit to democratic principles, including the checks and balances that ensure our freedoms endure.
Just honoring the past does not meet the challenges we face today. Patriotic Americans must also protect the future by demanding that the Trump Administration cooperate with – not threaten and prosecute – members of Congress who are doing their constitutional duty to oversee the execution of the nation’s immigration laws.
