Concentration of authority in the executive branch beyond constitutional limits, including expansion of emergency powers, executive orders bypassing legislation, and assertion of unilateral authority.

Attacks on the independence and legitimacy of the judiciary, including defiance of court orders, packing or threatening judges, and delegitimizing judicial review.

Systematic efforts to delegitimize, intimidate, or control media organizations, including ‘fake news’ rhetoric, selective access, legal threats, and ownership pressure.

Using law enforcement and military institutions for political purposes, including targeting political opponents, deploying forces against civilians, and installing loyalists in command positions.

Actions to undermine free and fair elections, including voter suppression, gerrymandering, false fraud claims, and interference with election administration.

Efforts to suppress, intimidate, or criminalize political opposition, including investigations of political rivals, threats against dissidents, and chilling effects on free speech.

Systematic removal of career civil servants and replacement with political loyalists, undermining institutional expertise and independence.

Efforts to reduce congressional oversight and checks on executive power, including defying subpoenas, withholding information, and executive privilege claims.

Using the justice system to target political enemies, including selective prosecution, political prisoner detention, and manipulation of legal proceedings.

Systematic weakening or elimination of independent regulatory agencies that provide checks on executive and corporate power.

Use of rhetoric that strips humanity from targeted populations, including immigrants, minorities, political opponents, and other out-groups.

Efforts to build and maintain a personality cult around the leader, including demands for loyalty, personality-centered governance, and messianic framing.

Systematic identification and demonization of target groups to redirect blame and build political support through shared enmity.

Requiring personal allegiance to the leader rather than to the Constitution, rule of law, or institutional norms.

Undermining public confidence in democratic processes, including elections, vote counting, peaceful transfer of power, and democratic institutions.

Use of violent rhetoric, threats of force, or encouragement of political violence, including against protesters, opponents, and institutions.

Promotion and use of conspiracy theories to justify policy, delegitimize opposition, and maintain supporter loyalty.

Exploitation of nationalist sentiment and populist grievances to build personal power, including ‘us vs. them’ framing, xenophobia, and anti-elite rhetoric that serves elite interests.

Systematic rejection of legal accountability, rule of law, and institutional checks, including claims of immunity, obstruction of investigations, and self-pardoning claims.

Active efforts to suppress protest, dissent, and opposition voices, including threats against protesters, retaliation against critics, and use of state power to silence opposition.