Word of the Day
April 15, 2021
Dictatorship
A form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a single ruler or a small group, typically one that has seized power by force and exercises it without constitutional limitations or popular consent.
From Latin 'dictator', originally a Roman magistrate appointed temporarily during emergencies with absolute authority. Derived from 'dictare' meaning 'to say repeatedly' or 'to prescribe.'
Usage Examples
- The founders designed the Constitution specifically to prevent any single branch from accumulating enough power to establish a dictatorship.
- History shows that dictatorship often emerges gradually through emergency powers and the erosion of institutional checks.
- The cartoon warned that unlimited spending could bust the government and create conditions for dictatorship.
From the Show
A 1934 Chicago Tribune cartoon warning of dictatorship through unlimited spending opened the April 15th broadcast, setting the stage for David Horowitz’s analysis of totalitarian movements in modern America.