Friday, December 14, 2007
THE SEPARATION OF POWERS
This site is all about the issue of the separation of powers within the United States. It is an introduction to the checks and balance system, what's wrong with it today, how people are trying to stop it and what they think about it. It also give a lot of information about how the checks and balances were ignored in the past and how we view those decisions today in comparison with the current issues. If you're looking for information about the separation of powers, this is your one stop shop to get everything you need to know.
WEBSITES
These websites are a great introduction to the issue of the separation of power and ways in which to understand it.
1. "Checks and Balances"
http://www.quia.com/rr/92742.html
This website is actually a quiz that tests one's knowledge of the powers held by each of the three branches of the government. It asks questions about all three branches and is in the format of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Its a great way to be introduced and to remember the roles of the branches of government.
Most importantly, this site forces one to think about the American system of government. If looking at the separation of powers is new, this site can give a lot of information about who can do what in government in a quick and entertaining way. Its a hard test for someone who does not know a lot about the branches and roles of them. Without this basic knowledge though, its really impossible to grasp the seriousness of checks and balances.
2. "Constitutional Topic: Checks and Balances"
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_cnb.html
This site gives the basic outline of the checks and balances used by the United States Government. Its simple format is easy to follow and it goes through each branch, executive, legislative, and judicial, respectively, detailing each branches jobs in order to maintain the separation of power.
Again, for someone who is newly introduced to the issue of checks and balances, this site gives great information about how it works. That is, how it ideally works. Its important to know how the system is supposed to ideally work, or else there is no way to understand the issues of why it is not working.
3. "Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances"
http://www.checksbalances.org/
Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances is a site organized by citizens who fear that we are losing the checks and balances. These citizens are working to save the Constitution and to push Congress into taking action against the growing power of the presidency.
This site is all about what the citizen can do to help restore checks and balances. It goes through step by step why the separation of powers have failed and what that means for the ordinary citizen. It presents one with information about the issue of the separation of power and why it should be important to every citizen of the United States.
1. "Checks and Balances"
http://www.quia.com/rr/92742.html
This website is actually a quiz that tests one's knowledge of the powers held by each of the three branches of the government. It asks questions about all three branches and is in the format of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Its a great way to be introduced and to remember the roles of the branches of government.
Most importantly, this site forces one to think about the American system of government. If looking at the separation of powers is new, this site can give a lot of information about who can do what in government in a quick and entertaining way. Its a hard test for someone who does not know a lot about the branches and roles of them. Without this basic knowledge though, its really impossible to grasp the seriousness of checks and balances.
2. "Constitutional Topic: Checks and Balances"
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_cnb.html
This site gives the basic outline of the checks and balances used by the United States Government. Its simple format is easy to follow and it goes through each branch, executive, legislative, and judicial, respectively, detailing each branches jobs in order to maintain the separation of power.
Again, for someone who is newly introduced to the issue of checks and balances, this site gives great information about how it works. That is, how it ideally works. Its important to know how the system is supposed to ideally work, or else there is no way to understand the issues of why it is not working.
3. "Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances"
http://www.checksbalances.org/
Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances is a site organized by citizens who fear that we are losing the checks and balances. These citizens are working to save the Constitution and to push Congress into taking action against the growing power of the presidency.
This site is all about what the citizen can do to help restore checks and balances. It goes through step by step why the separation of powers have failed and what that means for the ordinary citizen. It presents one with information about the issue of the separation of power and why it should be important to every citizen of the United States.
VIDEOS
These Videos will help clarify and give examples of issues surrounding checks and balances.
1. "Habeas Corpus"
This movie explains Habeas Corpus, its historical roots and how it has been suspended in the past in American politics and a look at it today. It leaves the viewer with the question, will President Bush's actions be accepted later in history?"
This video gives a simple and easy to understand introduction to Habeas Corpus and its importance to history. Habeas Corpus is usually used as an example of overstepping the boundaries of power, especially in the case of the executive branch. This video gives examples of when and why it happened and simple views of the actions of those men. Its a introduction one of the major issues regarding the separation of powers.
2. "Alberto Gonzalez: No Constitutional Right to Habeas Corpus"
Alberto Gonzalez, former Attorney General of the United States, must justify to the Senate Judicary Committee the right of the president to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus. Gonzalez goes so far as to say the Constitution doesn't give the right to Habeas Corpus in the first place. This is an example of the justification of the growing power of the executive branch. They are still discussing whether or not President Bush had the right to suspend Habeas Corpus.
This is a excellent view of how a branch of government has overstepped the separation of powers. Here the Senate attempts to check the power given to the president after the fact, but its important to realize that Senate allowed the President to suspend Habeas Corpus in the first place. This gives a view of how the checking of a power is not all that effective if the power is already given.
3. "Checks and Balances?"
This video maps out the actions taken by the executive branch that give it the most power, destroying the separation of powers. It looks at the laws passed on a horizontal federal level (ie taking power from Congress), and from a vertical federal level (id taking power from state governors). Its an easy map to follow and gives specific information regarding the new powers of the executive branch.
This is important to see because it not only shows the president taking power from the other branches, but from the states as well. The president is gaining so much power, it is as if eventually no one will be able to check it. If the president continues to gain powers like those described in the video, the checks and balances system will fail. This gives the viewer an education as to why it is important to have the separation of powers.
1. "Habeas Corpus"
This movie explains Habeas Corpus, its historical roots and how it has been suspended in the past in American politics and a look at it today. It leaves the viewer with the question, will President Bush's actions be accepted later in history?"
This video gives a simple and easy to understand introduction to Habeas Corpus and its importance to history. Habeas Corpus is usually used as an example of overstepping the boundaries of power, especially in the case of the executive branch. This video gives examples of when and why it happened and simple views of the actions of those men. Its a introduction one of the major issues regarding the separation of powers.
2. "Alberto Gonzalez: No Constitutional Right to Habeas Corpus"
Alberto Gonzalez, former Attorney General of the United States, must justify to the Senate Judicary Committee the right of the president to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus. Gonzalez goes so far as to say the Constitution doesn't give the right to Habeas Corpus in the first place. This is an example of the justification of the growing power of the executive branch. They are still discussing whether or not President Bush had the right to suspend Habeas Corpus.
This is a excellent view of how a branch of government has overstepped the separation of powers. Here the Senate attempts to check the power given to the president after the fact, but its important to realize that Senate allowed the President to suspend Habeas Corpus in the first place. This gives a view of how the checking of a power is not all that effective if the power is already given.
3. "Checks and Balances?"
This video maps out the actions taken by the executive branch that give it the most power, destroying the separation of powers. It looks at the laws passed on a horizontal federal level (ie taking power from Congress), and from a vertical federal level (id taking power from state governors). Its an easy map to follow and gives specific information regarding the new powers of the executive branch.
This is important to see because it not only shows the president taking power from the other branches, but from the states as well. The president is gaining so much power, it is as if eventually no one will be able to check it. If the president continues to gain powers like those described in the video, the checks and balances system will fail. This gives the viewer an education as to why it is important to have the separation of powers.
PHOTOS
These photos are all quick and easy looks at the issue of separation of power.
1.
This picture is a simple example of what the government is supposed to do. Each branch, executive, legislative, and judicial, must be checked and balanced against the other. This will ensure a successful government.
http://www.statehousereport.com/images/cartoons/06.0407.cartoon_large.jpg
This is a quick look at how the separation of power is supposed to work. Its simplistic and easy to understand if studying the separation of power is new to anyone. Its easy to understand and see that each branch is represented and each branch is supposed to check and balance the other.
2.
http://www.statehousereport.com/images/cartoons/06.0407.cartoon_large.jpgThis comic, from statehousereport.com, is a great example of the issues of checks and balances between all three branches. In this picture, the legislative branch is unwelcome in helping or participating in the War in Iraq, leaving it in the hands of the executive and judicial branches only. In a perfect world, all three branches should be participating in the War in Iraq, but this author views that one branch is left out, leaving the American people without checks and balances.
The comic gives a unique view of the War in Iraq and who is running it. At the basis, it is left to the executive to run it, and this is a breach in the separation of powers, leaving us with no checks and balances, with power in the hand of one person instead of a majority. Its a simple look at the issue of checks and balances today and is easy to understand that there is an issue between the branches and the policies used in the War in Iraq.
3.
http://www.reuniteamerica.net/index.179.jpgThis comic, from reuniteamerica.net, shows the donkeys (representatives of the Democrats), in need of backbones and of the elephants (representatives of the Republicans), removing blinders. The artists opinion is that when both of these things happen, then Congress will have the ability to check the power of the president and restore checks and balances to the United States government.
Interestingly, this comic places blame on both parties regarding the president's gain of power which threatens the checks and balances so cherished by the American people. It gives a view that does not blame the president or the Republican Party for the growth of power in the executive branch. It brings another view to the front, that everyone in government must change, not just the President, if the checks and balances are to be restored.
BLOGS
These blogs give great information about what everyday people think about the issue of the separation of powers.
1. "Out of the Void"
http://fireshadow48.wordpress.com/category/checks-and-balances/
This blog focuses on the bloggers ideas and issues concerning checks and balances in American democracy. There are a series of blogs, starting with the bloggers own reason for the importance of the separation of powers and then examples of what other people think and his or her response to them. These responses are over a range of topics, like illegal immigration, politicians themselves, and general political uproars that occur daily.
This is a good place to look at how other citizens view the issues of checks and balances. Most importantly, this blog gives a citizens view of the importance of democracy and checks and balances. The blogger gives insight into the issues he or she feels regarding the current administration and the frustration of not seeing anything being done to stop the growing power of the executive branch.
2. "Masson's Blog"
http://www.masson.us/blog/?p=2578
Masson's Blog, is, in his words, "A Citizen's Guide to Indiana." Though he focuses mainly on politics in Indiana, this blog looks at the current federal administration's struggle with checks and balances. It is a quick and simple look at the issue in current politics.
Most important in this blog is the point he makes that people must enforce the Constitution, not depend on the words of the Constitution to get the job done. Masson asks for action, not talk. Its another citizen's view of how change must happen, and happen quickly. Simply, legislators must be more aggressive if they want to stop the growing power of the executive branch.
3. "Checks and Balances"
http://checksandbalances.wordpress.com/
This entire blog is dedicated to educating people about the issue of checks and balances in the current administration. In their own words, "We are dedicated to serving the American public through education. We are concerned about the state of our civil and human rights and are working to reinstate and protect them. Please enjoy our site and help us to raise awareness in our country!"
This site gives information from all over the web and puts it into an easy to follow formula for education about checks and balances in the current administration. All of it is about the current political climate, and it looks at how current politicians are justifying the actions of the executive branch. The blogger questions this justification and looks to stop the growing power of the executive branch through education. Again, it is an ordinary citizen's view of how the government must change.
1. "Out of the Void"
http://fireshadow48.wordpress.com/category/checks-and-balances/
This blog focuses on the bloggers ideas and issues concerning checks and balances in American democracy. There are a series of blogs, starting with the bloggers own reason for the importance of the separation of powers and then examples of what other people think and his or her response to them. These responses are over a range of topics, like illegal immigration, politicians themselves, and general political uproars that occur daily.
This is a good place to look at how other citizens view the issues of checks and balances. Most importantly, this blog gives a citizens view of the importance of democracy and checks and balances. The blogger gives insight into the issues he or she feels regarding the current administration and the frustration of not seeing anything being done to stop the growing power of the executive branch.
2. "Masson's Blog"
http://www.masson.us/blog/?p=2578
Masson's Blog, is, in his words, "A Citizen's Guide to Indiana." Though he focuses mainly on politics in Indiana, this blog looks at the current federal administration's struggle with checks and balances. It is a quick and simple look at the issue in current politics.
Most important in this blog is the point he makes that people must enforce the Constitution, not depend on the words of the Constitution to get the job done. Masson asks for action, not talk. Its another citizen's view of how change must happen, and happen quickly. Simply, legislators must be more aggressive if they want to stop the growing power of the executive branch.
3. "Checks and Balances"
http://checksandbalances.wordpress.com/
This entire blog is dedicated to educating people about the issue of checks and balances in the current administration. In their own words, "We are dedicated to serving the American public through education. We are concerned about the state of our civil and human rights and are working to reinstate and protect them. Please enjoy our site and help us to raise awareness in our country!"
This site gives information from all over the web and puts it into an easy to follow formula for education about checks and balances in the current administration. All of it is about the current political climate, and it looks at how current politicians are justifying the actions of the executive branch. The blogger questions this justification and looks to stop the growing power of the executive branch through education. Again, it is an ordinary citizen's view of how the government must change.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
AUDIO CLIPS
These bits and pieces from podcasts help shed much light on the issue of checks and balances
1. "Lincoln, Congress, and 'This Mighty Scourge'," NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7146831
This audio clip is an interview with James McPherson, one of the leading historians of the American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln himself. In this, McPherson answers questions about Lincoln's actions as president in which he overstepped the separation of powers and how they compare to Bush's. McPherson focuses solely on the issue of the suspension of Habeas Corpus, an act that both presidents suspended.
This gives a quick and easy look at how scholars continually re-evaluate the actions of the past and how those actions are compared to the current era. It is a very recent interview, Feburary of 2007, and gives one a good idea of how the issue of checks and balances is constantly under review, not only for the current era, but the past as well.
2. "Charlie Savage, In Pursuit of the Imperial President," NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14181701
On September 5, 2007, reporter and Pulizer Prize winner Charlie Savage gave an interview to NPR concerning the growing strength of the executive power under President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Savage gives his opinions on how the president has this new and growing power to bypass provisions of new laws. His focus is solely on the current administration and how they are ruining the system of checks and balances.
This interview is important to the understanding of the current issues surrounding checks and balances and the opinions of people with regard to the actions of President Bush. The sole focus on the current administration gives the most up to date information regarding checks and balances and the questions about them in the world today. This issue of executive privilege is a major issue for President Bush and Savage clearly outlines the problems with the Bush Administration from his point of view.
3. "Ring of Fire"-Air America Radio
http://www.everyzing.com/viewMedia.jsp?match=query,channel&expand=true&filter=1&num=10&dedupe=1&start=0&mc=en-aud&il=en&col=en-aud-public-ep&q=checks+and+balances+&res=131177449&e=15263830&index=6&seek=0
Upon reaching the clip at 0:47 minutes, this piece of an interview of Henry Waxman focuses on the Congressman's dedication to addressing the issues regarding checks and balances in the current administration, as well as other issues between the legislative and executive branches. Waxman, chairman of the committee for oversight and reform, is dedicated to bringing the Bush Administration's actions to light and his goes into details in this interview.
Hearing this interview gives one an idea of how concerned politicians are with the issue of checks and balances within the current administration. Once ignored, the actions and decisions of the executive branch are now under review and Waxman discusses the importance of this and why it must be done. Gives one a good idea of what is wrong with checks and balances right now in politics, especially since the interview was taken on December 8, 2007.
1. "Lincoln, Congress, and 'This Mighty Scourge'," NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7146831
This audio clip is an interview with James McPherson, one of the leading historians of the American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln himself. In this, McPherson answers questions about Lincoln's actions as president in which he overstepped the separation of powers and how they compare to Bush's. McPherson focuses solely on the issue of the suspension of Habeas Corpus, an act that both presidents suspended.
This gives a quick and easy look at how scholars continually re-evaluate the actions of the past and how those actions are compared to the current era. It is a very recent interview, Feburary of 2007, and gives one a good idea of how the issue of checks and balances is constantly under review, not only for the current era, but the past as well.
2. "Charlie Savage, In Pursuit of the Imperial President," NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14181701
On September 5, 2007, reporter and Pulizer Prize winner Charlie Savage gave an interview to NPR concerning the growing strength of the executive power under President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Savage gives his opinions on how the president has this new and growing power to bypass provisions of new laws. His focus is solely on the current administration and how they are ruining the system of checks and balances.
This interview is important to the understanding of the current issues surrounding checks and balances and the opinions of people with regard to the actions of President Bush. The sole focus on the current administration gives the most up to date information regarding checks and balances and the questions about them in the world today. This issue of executive privilege is a major issue for President Bush and Savage clearly outlines the problems with the Bush Administration from his point of view.
3. "Ring of Fire"-Air America Radio
http://www.everyzing.com/viewMedia.jsp?match=query,channel&expand=true&filter=1&num=10&dedupe=1&start=0&mc=en-aud&il=en&col=en-aud-public-ep&q=checks+and+balances+&res=131177449&e=15263830&index=6&seek=0
Upon reaching the clip at 0:47 minutes, this piece of an interview of Henry Waxman focuses on the Congressman's dedication to addressing the issues regarding checks and balances in the current administration, as well as other issues between the legislative and executive branches. Waxman, chairman of the committee for oversight and reform, is dedicated to bringing the Bush Administration's actions to light and his goes into details in this interview.
Hearing this interview gives one an idea of how concerned politicians are with the issue of checks and balances within the current administration. Once ignored, the actions and decisions of the executive branch are now under review and Waxman discusses the importance of this and why it must be done. Gives one a good idea of what is wrong with checks and balances right now in politics, especially since the interview was taken on December 8, 2007.
ARTICLES
The following three articles are all helpful in broadening one's understanding of the Separation of Powers issue in the United States.
1. "Checks and Balances," Paul C. Bartholomew
http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0088940-00&templatename=/article/article.html
This article, from The American Presidency, by Paul C. Bartholomew, discusses system of checks and balances in United States government. It starts with the definition, gives the theory behind it, and a explanation of how it is utilized in U.S. government, as defined in the United States Constitution.
This is an excellent source to look at when trying to better understand exactly what the separation of powers, or the checks and balances, of the United States government are. It is basic information that can be built upon, but without this basic knowledge, it is difficult to understand the issues surrounding the separtion of powers today and throughout history.
2. "Lincoln's Crackdown," by David Greenberg
http://slate.com/id/2059132/
In 2001, right after the attacks of September 11, President Bush took strong measures to ensure that terrorists in the United States were caught. In this, he suspended civil liberties and some critics believed he overstepped his boundaries as president, and went unchecked by both the legislative and judicial branches. President Lincoln, at the onset of the Civil War also suspended civil liberties and the actions of both presidents are often compared. This article discusses how the suspension of civil liberties was a blemish on Lincoln's record and will also be one on Bush's.
This is an interesting article to look at, especially since it was written in November of 2001. It is a critical look at what happens when a branch of government, namely the executive, oversteps its boundaries and history's reaction to it. The author, David Greenberg, takes a negative approach to the actions of both Lincoln and Bush. The article gives the reader a more historical look at the issue of the separation of power and how it is looked at today.
3. "Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime," by Honorable Frank J. Williams
http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/hl834.cfm
This article, written in 2004, takes the opposing view as the previous article, comparing the actions of Lincoln and Bush as correct and necessary to protect the safety of the U.S. government. The author, Honorable Frank Williams, Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice, focuses on the actions of Lincoln and Bush as necessary and not unconstitutional actions that did not overstep the checks and balances of the U.S. Constitution.
This article is important because it gives the opposing view of Greenberg and his interpretation of the constitutionality of both presidents' actions. This gives the viewer a more balanced view and a look at how others interpret the Constitution and the complexity of the issue of the separation of power.
1. "Checks and Balances," Paul C. Bartholomew
http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0088940-00&templatename=/article/article.html
This article, from The American Presidency, by Paul C. Bartholomew, discusses system of checks and balances in United States government. It starts with the definition, gives the theory behind it, and a explanation of how it is utilized in U.S. government, as defined in the United States Constitution.
This is an excellent source to look at when trying to better understand exactly what the separation of powers, or the checks and balances, of the United States government are. It is basic information that can be built upon, but without this basic knowledge, it is difficult to understand the issues surrounding the separtion of powers today and throughout history.
2. "Lincoln's Crackdown," by David Greenberg
http://slate.com/id/2059132/
In 2001, right after the attacks of September 11, President Bush took strong measures to ensure that terrorists in the United States were caught. In this, he suspended civil liberties and some critics believed he overstepped his boundaries as president, and went unchecked by both the legislative and judicial branches. President Lincoln, at the onset of the Civil War also suspended civil liberties and the actions of both presidents are often compared. This article discusses how the suspension of civil liberties was a blemish on Lincoln's record and will also be one on Bush's.
This is an interesting article to look at, especially since it was written in November of 2001. It is a critical look at what happens when a branch of government, namely the executive, oversteps its boundaries and history's reaction to it. The author, David Greenberg, takes a negative approach to the actions of both Lincoln and Bush. The article gives the reader a more historical look at the issue of the separation of power and how it is looked at today.
3. "Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime," by Honorable Frank J. Williams
http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/hl834.cfm
This article, written in 2004, takes the opposing view as the previous article, comparing the actions of Lincoln and Bush as correct and necessary to protect the safety of the U.S. government. The author, Honorable Frank Williams, Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice, focuses on the actions of Lincoln and Bush as necessary and not unconstitutional actions that did not overstep the checks and balances of the U.S. Constitution.
This article is important because it gives the opposing view of Greenberg and his interpretation of the constitutionality of both presidents' actions. This gives the viewer a more balanced view and a look at how others interpret the Constitution and the complexity of the issue of the separation of power.
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