In the book "How Democracies Die," Steven Levitsky discusses how certain government actions intended to weaken democratic institutions may not necessarily be illegal. Instead, these actions can receive legislative approval or judicial endorsement, making them seem legitimate. This façade allows governments to undermine democracy while claiming to enhance it.

Such measures are often framed as reforms aimed at increasing the efficiency of the judiciary, fighting corruption, or refining the electoral process. However, this misuse of legislative and judicial support can lead to significant erosion of democratic norms, ultimately threatening the integrity of the democratic system itself.