1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern about matters raised in a recent Guardian opinion article that highlight serious threats to core democratic principles in the United States. The author, constitutional law expert David Cole, describes what he calls a two-pronged strategy by the president that undermines the rule of law and civil society, and I believe these issues warrant urgent attention from Congress. 1. Expansion of “Emergency” Powers Without Justification The article notes that the administration has repeatedly declared nonexistent emergencies to justify extraordinary actions that bypass established legal procedures. For example, treating certain criminal activity as an “armed conflict” has been used to authorize lethal force without trial and to invoke archaic statutes like the Alien Enemies Act, resulting in deportations without hearings and even in defiance of court orders. These are not routine exercises of executive authority — they represent a departure from constitutional norms. 2. Suppression of Dissent and Targeting of Institutions Equally troubling is the reported pressure placed on civil society institutions, including universities, law firms, media outlets, and nonprofits. According to the article, these pressures have chilled free speech and deterred organizations from exercising constitutionally protected rights, often out of fear of losing government funding or facing legal retaliation. This trend toward intimidation erodes the independent voices critical to a healthy democracy. 3. The Rule of Law Must Be Preserved The rule of law is the foundation of constitutional democracy — that government officials are bound by the law, not personal will. When checks and balances are weakened and dissenting institutions are marginalized, our system of self-government is jeopardized. While courts have pushed back against some overreach, this alone cannot safeguard democratic norms if legislative authorities remain passive. For these reasons, I urge you and your colleagues in Congress to consider actions that would: • Reinforce statutory limits on emergency powers and ensure that they cannot be invoked without clear, demonstrable conditions. • Protect civil liberties and free expression by preventing punitive measures against organizations for their viewpoints or activities. • Strengthen oversight of executive actions to prevent circumvention of due process and constitutional protections. Our republic depends on the courage of elected officials to uphold constitutional governance — not just in rhetoric, but in law and practice. I respectfully ask that you take these concerns seriously and act to protect the freedoms and institutions that sustain our democracy. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.