PHOTOS

These photos are all quick and easy looks at the issue of separation of power.

1.

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/government/check_header.gif

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.

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.jpg

This 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.jpg

This 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.