On October 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court took the rare step of requesting additional briefing in a high-profile emergency case challenging President Trump’s federalization of the National Guard in Chicago for immigration enforcement, signaling the Court is grappling with fundamental …
April PerryDonald TrumpJB PritzkerSupreme Courtchicagoconstitutional-crisisfederalismfederalizationmilitarization+5 more
Former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James filed coordinated motions challenging the constitutional authority of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan to prosecute their cases, with both challenges consolidated before Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of the District of …
James ComeyLetitia JamesLindsey HalliganJudge Cameron McGowan CurrieErik Siebert+1 moredoj-weaponizationinstitutional-capturerule-of-law-erosionconstitutional-crisisappointments-clause+1 more
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a rush appeal deciding whether President Trump acted lawfully in firing board members leading independent federal agencies, setting up oral arguments for December 2025. The case will reconsider the landmark 1935 precedent Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, …
Supreme CourtDonald TrumpRebecca SlaughterFederal Trade CommissionBrett Kavanaughsupreme-courtjudiciarycourtsexecutive-powerindependent-agencies+3 more
On September 1, 2025, President Trump initiated a massive purge of federal Inspectors General, firing approximately 17 independent watchdogs across multiple agencies. These dismissals, explicitly outlined in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 blueprint, violated federal law requiring …
Donald TrumpChuck GrassleyChuck SchumerElizabeth WarrenRobert Storch+2 moreinspector-general-purgeoversight-eliminationexecutive-poweraccountability-removalproject-2025+2 more
In a controversial move, the Texas Legislature voted to change quorum rules and pass a new congressional map creating five additional safe Republican seats without Democratic members present. The legislature modified procedural rules to allow passage despite the absence of Democratic lawmakers, who …
Texas LegislatureTexas RepublicansGreg AbbottTexas House DemocratsTodd Hunterredistrictinggerrymanderingquorum-violationconstitutional-crisiselectoral-manipulation+2 more
52 Texas House Democrats fled to Illinois to break quorum and prevent a vote on unprecedented mid-cycle redistricting that would create 5 new safe Republican congressional seats, echoing 2003 and 2021 walkouts but this time leaving state to avoid federal law enforcement. At least 51 Democratic …
Texas House DemocratsTexas LegislatureIllinois Governor JB PritzkerGene WuJosh Rush Nisenson+1 moreredistrictingdemocratic-resistancequorum-breakinterstate-politicsconstitutional-crisis+1 more
Twelve Democratic members of Congress filed suit in federal court after being systematically denied access to ICE detention facilities nationwide. The lawsuit challenges DHS’s new policy requiring seven-day advance notice for visits and blocking all access to ICE field offices, which violates …
Rep. Joe Neguse (CO)Rep. Jason CrowRep. Adriano Espaillat (NY)Rep. Dan Goldman (NY)Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS)+9 morecongressional-oversightice-detentionrule-of-lawconstitutional-crisistransparency-failure
Governor Newsom announces plan to redraw California congressional maps to “put a stake in the heart” of Trump’s Texas redistricting, stating “We can sit on the sidelines and talk about the way the world should be, or we could recognize the existential nature that is this …
California LegislatureGavin NewsomCalifornia Democratic Partyredistrictingdemocratic-countermoveconstitutional-crisiselectoral-arms-racemid-cycle-redistricting
A historic nationwide protest against presidential overreach, the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations involved over 5 million Americans in more than 2,100 cities and towns, marking the largest coordinated resistance action since the Women’s March of 2017. Protesters challenged Trump’s …
Civil Society OrganizationsProtest movementsAmerican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)MoveOnAmerican Federation of Teachers+1 moreprotestscivil-resistanceconstitutional-crisispopular-oppositiontrump-administration+1 more
Federal judges across multiple courts ruled that President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose unilateral tariffs was illegal and exceeded presidential authority. On May 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras granted a preliminary …
Donald TrumpRudolph ContrerasU.S. Court of International TradeSupreme Courtjudicial-pushbackemergency-powersexecutive-overreachtrade-policyconstitutional-crisis+1 more
Ongoing federal court cases challenge the president’s authority to unilaterally federalize state National Guard units, with multiple states filing legal challenges to Trump’s deployment of California’s National Guard. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the president …
Supreme CourtState GovernorsDepartment of DefenseCalifornia GovernorNew York Attorney General Letitia James+1 morenational-guardconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powersfederal-state-relations
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a critical hearing investigating unprecedented threats to judicial independence in 2025, documenting rising levels of violence, intimidation, disinformation, and defiance of lawful court judgments. Testimony revealed a disturbing pattern of physical threats, …
In a landmark ruling on April 22, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals established unprecedented guidelines for presidential authority to federalize state National Guard troops. The decision significantly expanded executive power by upholding the president’s ability to deploy 4,000 …
Federal Appeals CourtGavin NewsomDepartment of DefenseCharles BreyerDonald Trump+1 morenational-guardfederalismmilitary-authorityconstitutional-crisisexecutive-power+1 more
In a landmark series of rulings spanning multiple federal appeals courts and culminating on April 10, 2025, federal judges significantly reaffirmed and expanded legal frameworks for holding the executive branch accountable. The decisions centered on critical constitutional issues including …
Federal JudiciarySupreme CourtDepartment of JusticeRebecca SlaughterLisa Cook+2 morepresidential-accountabilityconstitutional-crisisjudicial-reviewlegal-precedentexecutive-power+1 more
President Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose sweeping ‘reciprocal tariffs,’ marking the first time in IEEPA’s 48-year history that a president used the emergency statute—designed for genuine national …
Donald TrumpSupreme Courtemergency-powersexecutive-overreachtrade-policyconstitutional-crisisinstitutional-capture
The Department of Justice announced plans to challenge the constitutional protections that prevent the president from arbitrarily firing leaders of independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationSarah HarrisRichard DurbinNLRB Leadership+1 moreregulatory-capturejustice-weaponizationconstitutional-crisisexecutive-power-expansion
Trump administration launched systematic executive orders targeting law firms, mass firings of prosecutors, and open defiance of court rulings, creating what legal scholars describe as unprecedented constitutional crisis.
Judge Juan Merchan granted an indefinite postponement of Donald Trump’s sentencing on 34 felony convictions, effectively acknowledging that Trump’s election victory had made it impossible to sentence him in the foreseeable future. The postponement - from a scheduled November 26 …
Juan MerchanDonald TrumpAlvin Braggsentencingaccountability-failurepresidential-immunityconstitutional-crisis
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a lifelong Republican who served under George W. Bush (2001-2009), endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for president, marking the first time he publicly supported a Democrat for the office. In his statement, Cheney declared that ‘In our nation’s …
Dick CheneyKamala HarrisDonald TrumpLiz Cheneyelection-2024never-trumpestablishment-gopjanuary-6constitutional-crisis+1 more
Minutes after voting to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered an extraordinary and scathing floor speech declaring: “There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the …
One week after the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, the House of Representatives voted 232-197 to impeach President Donald Trump on a single article charging him with “incitement of insurrection,” making Trump the first president in American history to be impeached twice. The …
Donald TrumpNancy PelosiLiz CheneyAdam KinzingerHouse of Representativestrump presidencyimpeachmentjanuary 6 attackconstitutional crisisrepublican party
Environmental lawyer Jeffrey Clark attempted to use the Department of Justice to overturn the 2020 election by sending false fraud letters to swing states. Clark drafted a letter falsely claiming DOJ had identified ‘significant concerns’ about the election and urging Georgia to convene a …
Jeffrey ClarkDonald TrumpJeffrey RosenRichard DonoghueDepartment of Justiceconstitutional-crisisinstitutional-capturecoup-attemptjanuary-6kleptocracy+6 more
President Trump’s systematic abuse of pardon power between 2017-2021 established a pattern of corruption that transformed constitutional clemency authority into a criminal enterprise. Analysis of Trump’s 237 pardons and commutations reveals a president who monetized executive power, …
Donald TrumpRudy GiulianiJared KushnerWilliam Barrpardonscorruptionpay-to-playabuse-of-powerconstitutional-crisis
The House of Representatives voted on December 18, 2019 to impeach President Donald Trump on two articles: Abuse of Power (230-197-1) and Obstruction of Congress (229-198-1), making Trump only the third president in American history to be impeached. Article I charged that Trump “solicited the …
Donald TrumpNancy PelosiAdam SchiffHouse Democratsfirst impeachmentabuse of powerobstruction of congressconstitutional crisisukraine
President Donald Trump explicitly declares blanket resistance to congressional oversight, stating “We’re fighting all the subpoenas” and dismissing House Democrats as not “impartial people.” This systematic escalation represents an unprecedented challenge to legislative …
Donald TrumpWhite HouseHouse DemocratsCongressional InvestigatorsDon McGahn+2 moretrump-administrationcongressional-obstructionsubpoena-defianceconstitutional-crisissystematic-corruption+2 more
President Trump filed a federal lawsuit to block a House Oversight Committee subpoena seeking eight years of his financial records from accounting firm Mazars USA, challenging Congress’s investigative authority. The lawsuit sought to prevent the release of tax returns and financial statements, …
Donald TrumpMazars USAHouse Oversight CommitteeElijah CummingsMichael Cohen+1 moretrump-administrationfinancial-recordscongressional-subpoenalegal-challengeoversight-obstruction+1 more
Trump called White House Counsel Don McGahn at home and directed him to call Acting Attorney General and say Special Counsel had conflicts of interest and must be removed. McGahn refused, deciding he would resign rather than trigger what he viewed as potential “Saturday Night Massacre” …
Donald TrumpDon McGahnRod RosensteinRob Porterobstruction-of-justicemueller-investigationsaturday-night-massacrewitness-tamperingdocument-falsification+2 more
The American Bar Association Task Force condemned President Bush’s unprecedented use of signing statements to nullify congressional oversight, issuing more than 800 constitutional challenges by 2006 versus fewer than 600 by all previous presidents combined. Bush produced 150 signing statements …
George W. BushAmerican Bar AssociationDick CheneyDavid AddingtonJohn Yoosigning-statementsexecutive-powerconstitutional-crisisunitary-executiveaba
In Cheney v. United States District Court, the Supreme Court rules 7-2 to protect the secrecy of Vice President Cheney’s Energy Task Force meetings with oil executives. The Court vacates a lower court order requiring disclosure of task force participants and documents, ruling that federal …
Dick CheneySupreme CourtAnthony KennedyAntonin ScaliaRuth Bader Ginsburg+3 moresupreme-courtexecutive-privilegecheneyenergy-task-forcesecrecy+2 more
Alberto Gonzales and Chief of Staff Andy Card went to George Washington Hospital ICU to pressure hospitalized Attorney General John Ashcroft to reauthorize the NSA surveillance program that the Department of Justice had deemed illegal. Acting Attorney General James Comey raced to the hospital with …
John AshcroftJames ComeyAlberto GonzalesAndy CardRobert Muellerrule-of-lawexecutive-powersurveillancestellarwindconstitutional-crisis+5 more
President George W. Bush issues Executive Order establishing the Office of Global Communications, formalizing the systematic coordination infrastructure between the White House and television networks developed during the WHIG Iraq campaign. The OGC institutionalizes daily conference calls with …
George W. BushOffice of Global CommunicationsWhite House Iraq GroupTelevision Network Executivesadministration officials+2 moreoffice-global-communicationsexecutive-orderwhiginstitutional-coordinationnetwork-executives+3 more
President Bush signs the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, marking the successful culmination of WHIG’s systematic campaign to bypass constitutional separation of powers through coordinated congressional deception. The signed authorization represents not …
George W. BushWhite House Iraq GroupU.S. CongressConstitutional FrameworkAndrew Card+4 morewhigconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powersexecutive-powercongressional-manipulation+4 more
Congress passes the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution based on the systematically manipulated intelligence provided by the White House Iraq Group, representing the successful completion of WHIG’s campaign to corrupt legislative war powers. The House votes 296-133 …
White House Iraq GroupU.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. SenateHillary ClintonJohn Kerry+6 morewhigiraq-war-authorizationcongressional-deceptionconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powers+3 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG), established in August 2002, coordinated a comprehensive campaign to present intelligence about Iraq to congressional leaders. A Senate Intelligence Committee investigation found that intelligence claims about Iraq’s weapons capabilities and potential threats …
Karl RoveDick CheneyCondoleezza RiceLewis 'Scooter' LibbyAndrew Card+1 morewhigcongressional-deceptionintelligence-manipulationseparation-of-powersiraq-war+1 more
Following WHIG’s formation, communications strategists Karen Hughes and Mary Matalin establish systematic coordination protocols with television network executives and booking producers to ensure synchronized messaging during the planned September Iraq campaign rollout. Working as consultants …
White House Iraq GroupKaren HughesMary Matalinnetwork executivesSunday show producers+4 morewhignetwork-executivescoordination-protocolskaren-hughesmary-matalin+3 more
The Bush administration establishes the Office of Global Communications (OGC) to ‘formulate and coordinate messages to foreign audiences,’ creating an unprecedented infrastructure for distributing daily talking points to reporters, television networks, U.S. embassies, and Congress. The …
Office of Global CommunicationsWhite House Iraq GroupGeorge W. BushTelevision Network Executivesreporters worldwide+2 moreoffice-global-communicationswhigdaily-talking-pointsglobal-messengermedia-coordination+3 more
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under John Graham implemented new procedures requiring federal agencies to submit proposed regulations to corporate ‘stakeholder panels’ before internal government review. These panels, dominated by industry representatives, gained …
OIRAJohn GrahamCorporate Stakeholder PanelsFederal Agenciesoirainspector-general-firingssystematic-transformationrussell-voughtexecutive-power-expansion+9 more
President George W. Bush authorized the NSA’s Stellar Wind warrantless domestic surveillance program, completely bypassing FISA court oversight in a fundamental alteration of constitutional checks and balances. The program allowed the NSA to collect phone metadata and internet communications …
George W. BushMichael HaydenNSADick CheneyDavid Addington+3 moresurveillancensastellar-windfisa-bypassconstitutional-crisis+3 more
The U.S. House of Representatives votes to impeach President Bill Clinton on two articles: perjury before a grand jury (Article I, passed 228-206) and obstruction of justice (Article II, passed 221-212). Clinton becomes the second American president to be impeached, the first being Andrew Johnson in …
Bill ClintonHouse RepublicansKenneth Starrimpeachmentpresidential-accountabilityconstitutional-crisisperjuryobstruction-of-justice
President Reagan signs a finding on December 5, 1985, retroactively authorizing covert arms sales to Iran already conducted by National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane, formalizing an illegal shadow foreign policy run through the National Security Council. McFarlane had undertaken the sale of …
Robert McFarlaneJohn PoindexterOliver NorthRonald Reaganiran-contrareagan-administrationnsccovert-operationsconstitutional-crisis
On the evening of August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon addressed the nation and announced his intention to resign, effective at noon the following day. At noon on August 9, 1974, Nixon officially ended his term, departing with his family in a helicopter from the White House lawn. Minutes later, …
Richard NixonGerald FordSpiro Agnewwatergatepresidential-accountabilityconstitutional-crisisinstitutional-corruption
On Saturday evening, October 20, 1973, President Richard Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who had been appointed on May 18, 1973, to investigate Watergate and had refused Nixon’s “Stennis Compromise” proposal the previous …
Richard NixonArchibald CoxElliot RichardsonWilliam RuckelshausRobert Bork+1 morewatergateobstruction-of-justiceabuse-of-powerinstitutional-corruptionconstitutional-crisis
On February 5, 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt announces the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill, requesting congressional authority to appoint up to six additional Supreme Court justices—one for each sitting justice over age 70—potentially expanding the Court from nine to fifteen members. Roosevelt …
Franklin D. RooseveltSupreme Court of the United StatesJohn Nance GarnerHatton SumnersSenate Judiciary Committee+1 morejudicial-capturenew-dealsupreme-courtseparation-of-powersconstitutional-crisis+1 more
Congress passes the Legal Tender Act on February 25, 1862, authorizing the issuance of $150 million in United States Notes (popularly called “greenbacks” for their distinctive color) to finance the Union war effort after spiraling costs rapidly deplete gold and silver reserves. The …
U.S. CongressAbraham LincolnEdmund Dick TaylorWall Streetcurrencyfiat-moneyfinancial-manipulationspeculationinflation+1 more
South Carolina adopts an ordinance of secession on December 20, 1860, becoming the first state to withdraw from the United States following Abraham Lincoln’s election. The state’s authorities immediately demand that the U.S. Army abandon federal facilities in Charleston Harbor, …
Jefferson DavisAlexander StephensSouth CarolinaConfederate States of AmericaJames Buchanansecessionconfederacyslaveryconstitutional-crisistreason+1 more
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivers the Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford, ruling that African Americans “are not and could not be citizens” of the United States and therefore have no standing to sue in federal court, and that Congress lacks authority to …
Roger B. TaneyJames BuchananJohn CatronRobert Cooper GrierU.S. Supreme Court+1 moredred-scottjudicial-corruptionslave-powersupreme-courtconstitutional-crisis+1 more
A South Carolina state convention adopts the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 “null, void, and no law, nor binding upon this State, its officers or citizens,” and threatening secession if the federal government attempts to collect tariff duties …
John C. CalhounAndrew JacksonSouth CarolinaHenry ClayU.S. Congressnullificationslave-powerstates-rightssecession-threatconstitutional-crisis+1 more
The U.S. Supreme Court rules 5-1 in Worcester v. Georgia that states lack authority to impose regulations on Native American lands, with Chief Justice John Marshall writing that Indian nations are “distinct, independent political communities retaining their original natural rights” and …
John MarshallAndrew JacksonSamuel WorcesterCherokee NationGeorgia+1 morejudicial-nullificationexecutive-overreachindian-removalconstitutional-crisisrule-of-law+2 more