Trump’s acquittal is a sign of ‘constitutional rot’ – partisanship overriding principles | Opinion
Updated Feb 15, 2021;
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Constitutional rot is a condition in which we appear to be formally governed by constitutional rules and the rule of law, but the reality is quite different. When rot sets in, public officials and the public routinely ignore or subvert those rules while sanctimoniously professing fidelity to them.
Constitutional rot is not only a failure of constitutional law it is a failure of constitutional democracy.
Appearance is not reality
Among the practices and principles of a constitutional democracy are limited government and the separation of powers, majority rule through elections that are fair and free, respect for minority and individual liberties, and government based on reason and deliberation. These were famously stated in Federalist #1, an essay by Alexander Hamilton that laid out: