The 2024 election was a major blow for Democrats not only because of President-elect Donald Trump's decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, but also, because Republicans flipped the U.S. Senate and held their small majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The United States' federal government has plenty of checks and balances, and both Republicans and Democrats play a role in that. But in an article published by Salon on November 18, Austin Sarat — an Amherst College professor who focuses on criminal justice and political science — warns that in 2025, Americans can expect a sobering education on the evils of "one-party rule."
"The 2024 election has installed a regime of one-party government in Washington," Sarat explains. "Come January 20, the presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives will all be controlled by Republicans, many of whom are dedicated foot soldiers in President-elect Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Add to this the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority, which has already shown itself willing to turn the Constitution upside down to serve the interests of the president-elect."
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The Amherst professor adds, however, that there is "one positive aspect to total Republican domination" — which is that "one-party rule can be a benefit in terms of democratic accountability."
According to Sarat, the thing to watch out for in 2025 will be whether Republicans prioritize the U.S. Constitution and the country's system of checks and balances or prioritize loyalty to Trump and their party.
"Advocates of so-called 'responsible party government,' going back as far as President Woodrow Wilson, define democracy as 'the popular control of government through accountable rulers,'" Sarat explains. "To them, only coherence, discipline, and solidarity of political parties can keep the rulers accountable.' However, that assumes that members of political parties respect the norms of constitutional government and display greater loyalty to the prerogatives of the branches of government in which they serve than their political party."
The Amherst professor continues, "The post-election period has already brought worrisome signs that this will not be true of the Republican majority in Congress and on the Supreme Court under Trump.
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Austin Sarat's full analysis for Salon is available at this link.