A country is like a tree — its state is the roots and trunk, while its government is the leaves and flowers. The use of military force to control cities is a step toward a “self-coup” to maintain party control over local governments dominated by the opposing party. Behind these borders, people ostensibly living in the same country will be subjected to preferential treatment based on which party controls local institutions of law, media, education and law enforcement. Congress must create legislation limiting excess presidential powers, preventing the executive from circumventing the legislative or pressuring local governments. Similarly, local governments must prioritize defending their authority by resisting the transfer of local law enforcement and military to federal control.