About
What we watch for.
Executive Overreach monitors presidential speeches for language associated with the expansion of executive power. It picks out the specific quotes that fit defined categories of concern, and links every one to its source so you can check it yourself.
01 · The categories
Eight patterns of concern.
Every quote is classified into one or more of these categories of executive power expansion.
- Undermining Judicial Independence
- Statements that attack court legitimacy, threaten judges, suggest ignoring rulings, or claim immunity from judicial review.
- Claiming Unilateral Authority
- Assertions of absolute power, claims that constitutional limits don't apply, or statements that the president can act without constraint.
- Attacking Press Freedom
- Threats against journalists or news organizations, labeling legitimate reporting as criminal, or suggesting restrictions on media.
- Threatening Political Opponents
- Suggestions of prosecution, imprisonment, or other retaliation against political rivals, critics, or those who testified in investigations.
- Bypassing Legislative Process
- Claims to act without congressional approval where it's constitutionally required, dismissing the need for legislation, or asserting the power to ignore laws.
- Consolidating Executive Power
- Statements about removing institutional checks, concentrating authority in the presidency, or eliminating independent oversight.
- Normalizing Emergency Powers
- Invocation of emergency authority for non-emergency situations, claims of unlimited crisis powers, or suggestions that emergencies justify suspending normal governance.
- Loyalty Demands
- Expectations of personal loyalty over constitutional duty, framing disagreement as betrayal, or suggesting government officials serve the president rather than the public.
02 · Check our work
Every quote links to its source.
- Each post quotes the speech word for word.
- Each one links straight to the moment in the C-SPAN video, so anyone can verify it.
If you believe a post contains an error, please open an issue on the project’s GitHub repository.