Citizens Should Resist Arbitrary Government Power

Comment   Email   Print
Related Articles
Last week, while discussing the resolution removing law enforcement powers of constables with Courier Editor Kevin Halpern, I stated that the motivation was arbitrary and if challenged in court, that I thought it would be overturned. The law allowing the resolution is relatively new and the use of it has never been challenged in courts so I mentioned cases of zoning issues, and other arbitrary acts of county government bodies that are routinely overturned buy the courts strictly because the where arbitrary. Kevin asked me where in law is the protection against arbitrary power found. I am embarrassed to say, I didn’t have an answer. I believed to my core it was true, we have that right, but I had just never given any thought until asked. So I set out to get an answer.

As it turns out the answer can be found in the Tennessee Constitution and the powers contained therein specifically the relevant sections of the Declaration of Rights. Most States have similar rights in their State Constitution. The Tennessee Declaration of Rights is not only incorporated into the State Constitution, but the State Constitution begins with the Declaration of Rights, which at 34 sections is the most lengthy article of the Tennessee Constitution-a testimony to just how important the framers of the Tennessee Constitution believed the general rights of the people to be.

The first two sections of the Declaration of rights declare from where government derives its power, and place in written law the natural right of the people to resist arbitrary power:

§ 1. Powers of people
That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

§ 2. Doctrine of non-resistance
That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

When our State Constitution says that all power is "inherent in the people" what does it mean?  Although the general laws of Tennessee offer some flexibility to local governments by allowing private acts and local charters, those provisions were not intended to give any local governing body the authority to interfere with or take away the rights and responsibilities granted by statute to another duly elected board or the right to undermine the vote of the people. To allow a county commission or county official to interfere with the duties of an elected officer not only contravenes state law, but also disenfranchises the community.

When a government or an individual part of the government begins to take powers unto itself because of personal whim, personal retaliation or even without rational thought, its power becomes arbitrary.

When a county commission makes the assumption that it may take unto itself the authority to enact things which are contrary to both the written constitution and the long-established individual rights of the citizenry, the framers of the Tennessee Constitution say that it is "absurd" and "slavish" not to resist the arbitrary power of the government. Clearly, the framers of the Tennessee Constitution were such believers in limited government that the first two sections of our Constitution are devoted to limiting the power of the State-by open resistance if ever necessary.

Arbitrary decisions are not necessarily the same as random decisions. Arbitrary is defined as:  1. Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system. 2. (of power or a ruling body) Unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority

The US Supreme Court has overturned laws for having "no rational basis." And Tennessee Courts have routinely overturned acts by county governments as being “arbitrary” One New York case states, "the courts cannot interfere unless there is no rational basis for the exercise of discretion or the action complained of is 'arbitrary and capricious.' " Matter of Pell v. Board of Education, 34 N.Y.2d 222, 231 (1974)

It is my understanding that the resolution regarding constables brought to the table January 15th was motivated by a personal encounter between a commissioner and a constable. From what I have been told, I personally don’t believe the encounter should have ever happen and I will not defend the actions of that constable on that day. However, two wrongs do not make a right. Instead of trying to resolve the conflict in a fashion that would have provided an education to the constable in question, the commissioner chose to violate his own oath of office to uphold our Constitution, and used his powers to not only go after that particular constable, but to arbitrarily go after all constables that were overwhelmingly voted into office by the people. The commissioner was joined by a couple of other commissioners with personal agendas. One supporting commissioner in response to the question, “If there is a reason for the resolution, tell me what we have done wrong?” blurted out “Because you are not needed!” Really, we do not have enough deputies, crimes are reported everyday, the sheriff department has a solve rate of burglaries of only 9.5 percent --- and we don’t need help?  A response that law enforcement elected by the people not being needed in this day and age is a very arbitrary response.

Mike Gannon has been our county Executive for over 8 years. Mike has told me that there has never been a complaint made to his office regarding constables. The office of constable is misunderstood, and often undermined by other elected officials. Constables have value and are used extensively in neighboring counties. That is important to remember at budget time when the city police or the sheriff come asking for more money to run their departments. maybe they need to be asked, "What have you done lately to work with 'our' county constables?"

I believe the electorate and Tennessee's residents are best served when the system of accountability established by the state is allowed to function and the vote of the people is respected. As to arbitrary power by our local officials: We are called upon by out Constitution to resist it.  Samuel Adams wrote, "If we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom." (Essay in Boston Gazette, 1771)

Jim Gibbs,  P.O.S.T. Instructor
Cannon County Constable
jimgibbs@cannoncounty.net
Read more from:
CANNON COMMUNITY
Tags: 
None
Share: 
Comment   Email   Print
Members Opinions:
[Delete]
April 11, 2011 at 8:57pm
Well said Mr. Gibbs. I agree with you!

It sure is funny how none of the people who went to the polls and elected all of you constables are the ones with the problems.
I not only find it arbitrary that the commissioners are abusing their power by taking away the power of the people who elected you guys. I also find it stupid and nothing more than a personal grudge by one of them who has no "heart" and just wants to continue in the hatred that fills his soul despite calling himself a Christian.

Grow up Commissioners and get a life and start worrying about the things that matter!
April 14, 2011 at 12:43am
While I don't know the specific motive behind this "less than transparent" effort to remove law enforcement authority from our elected Constables, I do hope that "each" of our County Commissioners will address this matter properly. If, the first Commission meeting in which this matter was discussed, read and voted on, was improper due to the matter being cloaked and deliberately NOT listed on the Meeting agenda, please try to discover the how and why. Set the record straight.

Efforts to unravel the Law Enforcement power or authority of elected Constables in each voting district, should be resolved by those same voters, especially in light of the obvious crime concerns we have in our Community. I hope our Commissioners would insist on the voters speaking to this matter, if it does in fact, need speaking to.

If, there has been a pattern of misconduct by one or more of our Constables, each and every case should be verified, certified and proven, rather than any witch hunts or blanket innuendos alleged by unnamed sources. Our Constables must be accountable in every respect, and hopefully they each would concur.

I would like to see the Constables in each voting district, lead efforts to establish an active Neighborhood Watch Program in every Community they represent. Education and Awareness are vital to addressing or reducing crime. Regular Community meetings in which crime identification and prevention tactics and education, by our elected Constables would be a positive and meaningful effort to reduce the growing crime problems we all face. I have spoke with Sheriff Darrell Young and with Jim Gibbs regarding establishing a Neighborhood Watch Program in the West Side Community and thankfully, both responded favorably.

Any residents in the West Side Community who are receptive to this effort, please let me know.

For over 16 years I have been on the West Side Volunteer Fire Department, and I continue to serve as Assistant Chief. This topic has been talked about many times over the years. I know that all our members will embrace and assist a Neighborhood Watch Program that serves to make our Community a wiser and safer one!

Matt Studd

Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: