The 'Big Man' threat

The drama playing out in the United States is testing the system of checks on power instituted by the Founding Fathers; it has already shown the dead end at which the divided country finds itself.

Those who in the 18th century hammered out the system of governance for their new republic wanted to exclude the danger of someone in the highest office abusing his power, of acting like the king they had just thrown off their backs. They decided Congress could impeach and try presidents.

This week's impeachment of Donald Trump by the House of Representatives showed the system's failure: Only members of the Democratic majority and one independent voted for impeachment; in the Senate, where Republicans hold sway, the two-thirds majority needed for conviction will not be found. Trump is the third president to be impeached; like his predecessor Bill Clinton, he will remain in...