The U.S. is a federal republic of sovereign Tribal, state, and federal governments. Representatives are elected democratically, while the president is chosen by electors selected by parties. Some states bind electors to their pledge, but no independent or non-party electors exist.

The president lacks inherent constitutional authority to impose tariffs. Congress delegates this power through laws, retaining the right to revoke it. Thus, Congress holds ultimate responsibility for the framework enabling tariffs.

Executive Orders are like instructions from a team captain (the president) to their players (executive branch). But the captain can’t make new rules—they must follow the rulebook (Constitution), referee calls (case law), and extra rules from Congress (laws).

Alaska’s governor has a powerful tool: the line-item veto. This means they can cut specific parts of a budget without rejecting the whole thing. The U.S. president doesn’t have this power, so in some ways, Alaska’s governor has more control over spending!

As a former municipal official, I was surprised by how few people participate in the process. Decisions shaping daily life—zoning, safety, utilities—are made by a few dozen voices. Most people don’t realize how much power local governments have or how impactful civic engagement can be. Thoughts?