The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
US at 250: Separation vs. concentration of power – America’s enduring constitutional debate
English Summary
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, constitutional debates are intensifying over whether institutional power remains balanced or if concentration is occurring across executive, judicial, and administrative branches. The analysis highlights that modern challenges—particularly those posed by the expanding administrative state and evolving judicial interpretations—are placing strain on traditional separation of powers principles. For policy, the findings underscore an urgent need to examine potential constitutional reforms and accountability mechanisms necessary to strengthen the system's resilience against future political pressures.
中文摘要
隨著美國邁向建國兩百五十週年，關於憲政的辯論日益激烈，核心爭議點在於制度權力是否仍保持平衡，抑或已在行政、司法和行政部門之間出現了集權趨勢。本分析強調，現代挑戰——特別是擴張的行政國家以及不斷演變的司法解釋所帶來的壓力——正在對傳統的分權原則構成巨大考驗。對於政策制定而言，研究結果突顯出迫切需要檢視潛在的憲法改革和問責機制，以強化體系抵禦未來政治壓力的韌性。
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