Absolute power

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Absolute power, also called absolute authority, is a term used in political science to describe a head of state and head of government that holds supreme executive, judicial and legislative powers. Most modern forms of absolute power are deemed undesirable, especially by proponents of democracy. People that wield such power are often called dictators and tyrants.

There are a few acceptable and even popular forms of absolute power, namely in the case of the Pope in his administration over Vatican City. Other popular monarchs ruled with absolute power but eventually such power was diminished and dissolved with the introduction of constitutions giving the people the power to make decisions for themselves through elected bodies of government. Such was the case in the United Kingdom, however, there are small factions of traditionalists who often argue in favor of reinstating authority historically wielded by its kings and queens.

Arguments against absolute power

British historian philosopher Lord Acton famously said, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton argued that the concentration of power in any one place — individual, religious, secular, et al — is harmful for all persons involved.

Declaratory Act of 1766

One historical example of an assertion of absolute power is evident in the Declaratory Act of 1766 by the British Parliament, in which Britain asserted absolute power "in all cases whatsoever" over the unrepresented American colonies. The colonists response to this assertion of absolute power can be seen in writings such as Thomas Paine's The American Crisis, Number One and the Declaration of Independence.

District of Columbia

A more current example of absolute power might be the power claimed by the United States Congress over the District of Columbia in the so-called "District Clause" (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17) of the U.S. Constitution, similarly asserting the right to exclusive legislation "in all cases whatsoever" over the unrepresented District of Columbia, the nation's capital.

Though most aspects of the American democracy include the operation of checks and balances, in this instance the Congress has been given absolute power to legislate over the land and population within the District of Columbia.