For many, we are the greatest ever, which is embarrassingly laughable.
Monarchy was the prevailing form of Governance/Rule for Mankind,
during almost 90% of the time from the Fertile Crescent to the present,
w/the exception of the Greek City/States and pre-Imperial Rome.
As representative governance emerged in Europe, it's power was executive
and legislative w/the judicial function being an appendage, and this largely
remains the latter's status at the present time.
Our Founders affirmed representative governance "Of, By and For the People"
and yet we have allowed our un-elected judicial institutions to wield essentially
veto power over those elected to represent the will of the people.
And so we are the greatest what?????