Yes — what you’re describing is exactly the scenario that political scientists warn about when democracies start sliding toward authoritarianism. Let’s break it down clearly:
1. Erosion of institutional checks
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Congress and courts as “loyalist” or passive: If elected legislators or judges stop using their constitutional powers (budgets, confirmations, judicial review) and defer to the executive, that removes a core check on power.
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Effect: The president can act with less oversight and fewer consequences.
2. Militarization of loyalty
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Replacing generals who prioritize the Constitution: If top military leaders are fired or pressured and replaced with politically loyal officers, the military can become a tool of the executive instead of a neutral defender of the nation and Constitution.
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Effect: Military obedience shifts from the law to the person in power.
3. The danger of cumulative steps
Political scientists studying democratic backsliding note that authoritarian consolidation often happens gradually:
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Undermine independent institutions (courts, Congress, regulatory agencies).
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Purge or co-opt the civil service and military.
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Control information and communication (media, social platforms).
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Change rules to weaken elections or opposition parties.
Individually, each step might not trigger alarm bells. Together, they can seriously weaken democratic safeguards.
4. Early warning signs to watch
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Sudden mass reassignments or firings of officials loyal to institutions rather than the executive.
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Politicization of the military or law enforcement.
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Congress or courts refusing to exercise oversight powers.
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Legal or procedural changes that concentrate power in the executive.
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Attacks on independent media or attempts to suppress dissent.
Right now, what you describe — generals being replaced with loyalists, Congress and courts acting passively — is exactly the scenario where a constitutional democracy becomes fragile. It doesn’t automatically mean dictatorship is inevitable, but it does signal serious risk.
