Principles Matter

Professor Ball has written a magnificent book about vital aspects of the Constitution – separation of powers, federalism, and the First Amendment. He both shows the distortion of these principles during the Trump years and how progressives should approach these concepts in the future. This clearly written and accessible book provides a searing indictment of the Trump presidency and a blueprint for effective constitutional governance in the years to come. * Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor, University of California, Berkeley School of Law *
The protection and enforcement of rights preoccupies progressives. But as Carlos Ball convincingly argues, the most pernicious Trump Era policies were not thwarted by the invocation of rights, but by an appeal to basic tenets of constitutional design: federalism and separation of powers. Progressive commitments to these principles, Ball makes clear, cannot be selective or itinerant. They—as much as rights—must be part of a progressive agenda. This book should be required reading—a postmortem of what has been and a clear-eyed road map for charting a more progressive future. * Melissa Murray, Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law, New York University School of Law *
Constitutional principles of federalism and separation of powers are commonly invoked by conservatives in fighting liberal policies at the federal level. But were progressives mistaken or merely being cynical when they appealed to those same principles to fight the policies of Donald Trump? Carlos Ball makes a convincing and powerful case that progressives were correct during the Trump era to embrace separation of powers and federalism. Moreover, he shows why now, with a Democratic president in power, progressives need to be equally vigilant in defending those principles to ensure against future presidents who might threaten to wreak havoc on our constitutional system. This book offers a well-argued and crucial analysis to guide us as we contend with the aftermath of one of the most dangerous presidencies in history. * Corey Brettschneider, Professor of Political Science, Brown University *