Discussion Topic
Do you think the founding fathers would have ever envisioned the
insurrection of January 6? Considering the aftermath, has the
system of checks and balances they created failed?
The Founding Fathers of the United States could not foresee a mob storming the United States
Capitol on January 6, 2021, to reverse the outcome of the presidential election in 2020, which
was a modern and unusual event over a century after their founding (
Challacombe & Patrick,
2023)
. The Founding Fathers anticipated political upheaval and dangers to their democratic
system. They highlighted the importance of checks and balances, the rule of law, and
adaptability. They drafted a constitution to manage a diverse society, with procedures in place
to address challenges and conflicts. The check and balance system did not fail because the
system of checks and balances was not intended to prevent or respond to a violent mob attack
like the one that happened that day. Its major goal is to prevent the consolidation of power in
any one branch of government by letting each component operate as a check on the others,
ensuring that no single component can misuse its powers. The events of January 6 sparked
debate and improvements in the security and law enforcement sectors, but they did not
fundamentally damage the system of checks and balances.
