Why America’s Separation of Powers Is Good for Business—And Why Trump’s Assault on It Should Terrify Every Business Owner and Entrepreneur
I still remember the feeling of locking in my first major client deal, a startup with guts, grit, and a five-year plan. They didn’t ask for miracles. They just wanted the rules to be clear and consistent. That’s what allowed them to hire. Build. Take calculated risks.
What gave them that confidence? It wasn’t a flashy tax incentive or a lucky VC. It was something far older and far more powerful: America’s separation of powers.
That’s the unsung hero of our economy. Not flashy. Not loud. But essential. And under Trump’s second term, it’s being attacked at the roots.
Let me break it down.
Separation of Powers Isn’t Academic—It’s Operational
Our Constitution was built on a simple, elegant idea: no one person should hold all the power.
- Congress makes the laws.
- The Executive Branch enforces them.
- The Judiciary interprets them.
Each has its lane. Each checks the others. And while that friction can be frustrating, it’s intentional. It’s what makes America a safe place to invest, to build, to dream.
In other words, separation of powers isn’t just about liberty, it’s about liability. About legal certainty. About protecting businesses from overnight chaos.
And right now, that protection is being shredded daily.
Predictable Government = Predictable Growth
When the three branches respect each other’s roles, the result is consistency. And consistency is catnip for businesses.
- Entrepreneurs borrow and build when they know tomorrow’s tax rules won’t be rewritten at 2 a.m. by executive fiat.
- Mid-sized manufacturers expand when national standards go through Congress, not unvetted political appointees.
- Global investors pump capital into the U.S. because they trust that a signed contract will survive a change in party.
That’s not theory. That’s how the American economy has worked for over two centuries.
But when Trump sidelines Congress, mocks the courts, and turns federal agencies into political puppets, that confidence evaporates. What business can plan in a world where the rules change every time someone gets mad on cable news?
Courts Aren’t the Enemy—They’re the Emergency Brake
Here’s what every founder, franchisor, freelancer, and farmer should remember: when government overreaches, the courts are your firewall.
They protect your contracts. Your intellectual property. Your right to operate fairly under the law.
But under this administration, court orders are being ignored. Immigration directives? Shrugged off. Regulatory rulings? Rewritten. Longstanding civil service protections? Gutted to make agencies personally loyal to the president.
That’s not governing. That’s grabbing. And when one branch bulldozes the others, the courts lose their ability to protect you—and the economy buckles.
What Happens When That Trust Breaks?
You don’t have to guess. History already told us:
- Interest rates spike.
- Investment dries up.
- Small businesses fold.
- Big companies flee.
Because markets may be volatile, but they’re not stupid. They chase stability. They reward order.
If you’re a small business relying on zoning laws, a mid-sized firm building across state lines, or a Fortune 500 company looking to expand globally, you depend on legal guardrails.
When those guardrails bend to political loyalty instead of constitutional law, every business, big and small, gets put in the blast zone.
Real People, Real Damage
Let’s talk about the people behind the headlines.
- The single mom running a food truck? She needs courts to enforce her vendor contracts.
- The dad working in a factory? His employer needs regulatory clarity to keep that plant open.
- The retiree living on a pension? That fund is tied to stable markets.
When Trump overrides courts, rewrites laws through executive order, and fills independent agencies with yes-men, it’s not just Washington that suffers. It’s your neighbor. Your co-worker. Your family.
It’s Not Just Trump—It’s the Culture of Control
Here’s the part that should send a chill down every entrepreneur’s spine: it’s not just one man. It’s the movement that cheers as he tears the system apart.
They don’t want oversight. They want obedience. They don’t want compromise. They want control.
If they can ignore Congress and the courts today, what makes you think they won’t ignore your property rights tomorrow? Your patents? Your ability to sue for damages when wronged?
This isn’t about politics. It’s about power, and whether you want it concentrated in one man’s hands, or dispersed through a system built to protect your freedom to operate, grow, and succeed.
What Needs to Happen—Right Now
We’re at a crossroads, and complacency is not an option. Here’s what we must do:
1. Demand that Congress reclaim its power—and reject Trump’s attempts to neuter it.
2. Support judges and courts that uphold the law, even when it’s unpopular.
3. Push back against agency overreach, especially when loyalty is valued over law.
4. Elect leaders who respect the Constitution—even when it slows them down.
5. Speak up—because silence is complicity.
Final Thoughts: Why Business Needs the Constitution
We defend the separation of powers not because it’s a cute civics lesson, but because it’s a business strategy.
- Predictable law allows risk.
- Risk creates innovation.
- Innovation drives jobs.
- And jobs build communities.
That’s the economic chain reaction made possible by constitutional balance.
So no, this isn’t just about a president overreaching. This is about whether America remains the best place on Earth to launch a business, invest in a dream, and build something that lasts.
If we let separation of powers fall, we’re not just losing a safeguard against tyranny.
We’re losing the economic engine that powers the American dream.
Let’s protect it, while we still can.
Mitch Jackson, Esq. | links
This post is free—but building a future rooted in truth and democracy takes real investment. If my work speaks to you, subscribe and if you can, chip in $5/month or $50/year—because independent journalism that actually gives a damn (and delivers ideas you can use today) is worth backing.
