Researcher ORCID Identifier
0009-0007-7558-0926
Graduation Year
2025
Date of Submission
4-2025
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Government
Reader 1
Michael Fortner
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2025 Noah Swanson
Abstract
Conservatives often talk about the American people being governed by “unaccountable bureaucrats” who go against fundamental values of democracy and the Founding Fathers. While a common narrative, little evidence is given to reinforce these strong claims. This thesis works to investigate the accountability of the administrative state and its relationship to the philosophy of the Founding Fathers. Accountability is defined as administrative actions (regulations, notices, etc.) being in line with the original intent of the Congress that passed the action’s empowering statute. If the administrative state goes beyond the mere execution of these statutes and thereby the intent of the Congress, they are seen as unaccountable. Through their administrative overreach, this thesis will argue that the administrative state has co-opted the legislative power and combined it with its constitutionally granted executive powers. This consolidation of powers is explicitly contrary to the Founders’ vision and represents a breach of the constitutional order of separation of powers.
Recommended Citation
Swanson, Noah, "A Republic Not Kept: The Administrative State as a Constitutional Break" (2025). CMC Senior Theses. 4042.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/4042
