In this Easter season I’ve been posting about the Illegal Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It all began because all Hebrew authority was concentrated in their Great Sanhedrin (they were allowed to govern themselves as a ‘client state’ of Rome). There were no checks and balances. Christ was found guilty of blasphemy.

There was no death penalty allowed to be carried out by the Sanhedrin without the express approval of the Roman representative. Hence, the Chief Priests took their guilty subject to Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea as representative of Caesar. They wanted approval of their death penalty crime. It was granted.

With his study of governments, James Madison knew the dangers of having all authority held in one political office. That’s why he presented his “Virginia Plan” to Congress assembled in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation, which weren’t working. The Virginia Plan proposed three separate but equal branches of government—the Executive, the Judicial, and the Legislative.

That was adopted with some negotiation, debate, and modification. Now we have three branches of government. But have you noticed that they have been slowly changing. Some of the Agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, etc. have their own rule making authority (legislative?), and decision making authority (Judicial) and, of course, Executive authority (Treasury Agents with guns and badges).

How have we let this happen? “You have a republic—if you can keep it”, Benjamin Franklin.