The Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Essay

The separation of powers and checks and balances is a system that was created in America by the founding fathers in the constitution of the United States. The separation of power plays an important role of keeping the three branches which are legislative, executive, and judicial in the government systems equal to one another and that neither branches becomes too powerful. Each branch has its very own power and duties to serve to the people and government. All three branches play a significant role in checks and balances and separation of powers, in our government and rely on each other to make sure that all of the power is equally distributed. One out of the three branches is the Legislative Branch which has the power to declare war,†¦show more content†¦The president also has the power of assigning the federal judges, and when to call Congress into session. Likewise, the president has the power to either sign or veto a piece of legislation from Congress. The Judicial branch is in charge of reviewing decisions and understanding federal laws. It is in charge of explaining the laws and having the power to decide if the laws are constitutional (Brand). The Judicial Branch is different from the other branches because, the members are appointed by the president and then approved by the Senate. This branch provides a comfort for the citizens to understand that the branches are dedicated to maintain equality and make sure they are fair laws. Even though, the judicial branch doesn’t have much power, it is just as important as the other two branches. With the separation of powers it gives citizens a voice and makes our government liberal. By providing a check and balance system, it provides less power to the president which doesn’t allow the president to make up the laws as he wishes. The checks and balances provide the citizens to be able to check the effectiveness of the laws made and if someone finds any one law unfair can take actions against it. Therefore the system of checks and balances provides an easy flowing popular system. The Legislative, Executive and Judicial branch are what makes America government system different. It creates an equilibrium ofShow MoreRelatedSeparation of Powers and Checks and Balances654 Words   |  3 Pagesreferring to checks and balances and separation of powers. Both have to do with the Government. But separation of powers is a model of government in which different parts of the government are in charge of different tasks; in the United States, these parts are known as the Legislati ve, Executive, and Judicial. Checks and balances is a means of trying to ensure that these three parts of government stay equal, and that one does not try to take over another. Separation of powers was first introducedRead MoreSeparation Of Powers And Checks And Balances1144 Words   |  5 Pagesframers believed that their government should be based on the separation of powers and checks and balances. This term of separation of powers was coined by Baron de Montesquieu, a French enlightenment writer. For the framers this idea of having separation of powers was mainly to avoid having the majority ruling with a strong hand. They avoided giving any branch of what was now their new government too much power. This idea of separation of powers by the framers was also because they believed that a governmentRead MoreThe Theory, Separation Of Powers With Checks And Balances, And Divided Government1456 Words   |  6 PagesWhy is it so difficult to accomplish anything in American government? The answer lies within three features of American government: the Hyperpluralist theory, separation of powers with checks and balances, and divided government. All these aspec ts of government result in gridlock, â€Å"a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done† (19). The first element of government that halts progress in America isRead MoreFederalism, Separation Of Powers, Checks And Balances And The Bill Of Rights1208 Words   |  5 Pages Federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances and the bill of rights are the four main elements that the constitution is made up of. All four of these elements are what made the constitution strong, lasting over two hundred years. Three separate branches were created that had their own specific powers. The government was then given the power to tax and enforce its laws. The structure of how this one document has governed is what makes the constitution unique. The U.S. constitution establishedRead MoreWhy Did the Founding Fathers Create a Constitution Based on the Ideas of Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federalism and the Bill of Rights?1533 Words   |  7 Pagesconstitution based on the ideas of separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism and the bill of rights? The founding fathers wanted to create a constitution because many believed that the national government had to be stronger than what it had been with the use of the Articles of Confederation. But at the same time they were fearful of human nature and how often it could be seen in the history of other countries such as Britain, for people in the position of power to infringe on the rights ofRead MoreSystem of Checks and Balances in America Essay1215 Words   |  5 PagesConstitution creates separation of power by dividing the government into three separate branches. These branches include the executive branch, the bicameral legislative branch and judicial branch. In order to ensure that no branch were to overpower the other two branches, the forefathers of the United States of America created a system of checks and balances. Because the United States of America Constitution created the separation of power that is supported by a system of checks and balances, the United StatesRead Mor eThe Constitution Defends a Tyranny-free Government773 Words   |  3 PagesConstitution defends against tyranny are federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. Federalism is one of the ways that helps defend against tyranny. Federalism granted powers to the central government and to the state. They share a portion of the powers between them, as shown in the diagram, like the power to take and borrow money (Doc A). With overlapping powers, neither groups would have complete control, yet would retain enough power to subdue any uprising made by the other party.Read MoreEssay on Separation of Powers in the US Government877 Words   |  4 PagesThe separation of power throughout the united states government prevents one part of the government from becoming so strong that it can infringe on the freedom of the governed (Bernstein 24). The united states government is a representative republic. A representative republic is a type of democracy where the people elect representatives to vote for them in the nations matters, rather than having every person vote on every single election and issue. The U.S. government is separated into three mainRead Mor eEu - Separation of Power?1629 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay I shall attempt to analyse whether the separation of powers is respected in the attribution of competences within the European Union. The separation of powers In order to assess this question we first have to consider what the doctrine of separation of powers actually is. The idea was developed by the French jurist Montesquieu in the 18th Century. It is based on a division of power between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Each institution have their distinct and largelyRead MoreThe Separation of Powers Doctrine Essay1040 Words   |  5 PagesThe Separation of Powers Doctrine The Separation of Powers Doctrine can be traced as far back as ancient Greece and essentially the meaning attributed to it is the dividing functions of government between groups with different interests, so that no power in the centre can act without the cooperation of others. However there are many interpretations of the doctrine, one being that of Aristotle, who favoured the division of power according to class interests of the

Is Deofes A Journal of the Plague Year Fact or Fiction

Nowadays, infectious diseases have become a major source of mortality and one of the greatest concerns for the society as whole. Equally this was the case during the mid-seventeenth century, when an unexpected plague returned again in Holland. Published in 1722 by Daniel Deofe, the novel was a first-person narrative told by the fictional character of H.F. recalling his experience and events from the plague. It is interesting to know how the author intended the historical novel as a warning to guide and comfort, especially the poor.Classifying the journal as fact or fiction was an issue since its publication being that it involved a fictitious account of a real event. With this idea in mind, I will argue that this detailed tale is a†¦show more content†¦Throughout the reading, I have captured that his style is simple and clear by bring out the main idea of each sentence for the most part. The structure is somehow poorly organized since there is not chapters or sub-topics maki ng it slightly hard to read. The reading is repetitive, in which he brings up the same issues at times. Probably he wants the readers to focus deeply on those points. An example can be his views on the poor people and their current situations. From our first impression, it is clear to say that it is a fictional journal but at the same time Defoe uses real historical resources from numbers and statistics to government documents in writing this novel. I get the sense that he also uses rumor as gossip to entertain his readers. For instance, in the first paragraph he mentions some hearsay about the origin of the plague some said from Italy...others said it was brought from Candia....but all agreed it was come into Holland again. With the idea that the book is very detailed and that Defoe was an infant (5 year-old) at the time of the plague, it is hard to tell where does he get this record of events from. This point opens the possibility that the narrator (H.F.) may be a reference of Def oes own uncle, Henry Foe, with the clue that they share the same initials. Although the novel is written in first-person and signed by H.F. at the end, Defoe neither focus nor talk

World Resources †scarcity and conflict Free Essays

string(271) " think there should be an international one child policy, but as a whole unit we need to find a method to achieve optimum population and taking into consideration a specific area’s carrying capacity and therefore move into the direction of sustainable development\." In the 1960s, one photograph changed the way world leaders, scientists and the general population thought about the management of the world’s resources. People became concerned about the world’s resources running out. This photograph was our Earth. We will write a custom essay sample on World Resources – scarcity and conflict or any similar topic only for you Order Now When world leaders saw this photograph taken from space, the world looked for the first time the world looked small and finite, this is because there is so many people on this planet and there needs to be consideration on what resources we use, and how much we use of them. The term ‘spaceship earth’ is applied here to describe how people felt about the Earth’s resources†¦they were limited just as a spaceship has limited reserves of air, water and food. Before world leaders were in illusion thinking that the world’s resources were in abundance. Some resources are non renewable meaning that after they run out there is no way of replacing them, and they only reform after millions of years these resources are called fossil fuels. There are three types of fossil fuels (crude oil, coal and natural gas). These resources are the resources the world should be concerned about and therefore use it sparingly. However the fossil fuels although the most important are not the only non renewable resources, others include food and forests. There are other resources called renewable energy sources which are starting to be developed such as biomass and wind power which takes the earth’s natural processes such as wind and through certain mechanisms covert it into energy which can be used for electricity. So in answer to the question, the fossil fuels are the most important world resources, however there are other non renewable world resources that have to be carefully used otherwise certain things couldn’t happen, for example imagine what the world would be like without out any wood. When the first maps of the world were created, many parts of the world were not discovered and therefore because society in that day and age believed in sea creatures and mermaids and other such things, everyone thought two things, firstly that at the end of the world was limitless and secondly that at the end of the worlds there were sea monsters. The first maps of the world were flat. Naturally many incorrect assumptions had been made, the world was not limitless and of course no sea monsters. However as countries began to be discovered the world seemed to become limitless and powerful. People began to have a care free attitude about the resources because they thought they would never run out. Things started to go downhill when it was discovered that the world was actually round, people started to believe that the world was not limitless, however they still remained in the delusion that the world’s resources were not going to run out any time soon and then therefore continued with their care free attitude. It was not until the 1960’s that people began to get worried about the world’s resources and decide to do something not to waste electricity (which in theory is the product of fossil fuels). This diagram shows how many people began to care about the world. Background There are two main official views in regard to the world’s resources running out. These are optimists and pessimists: Optimists View Optimists believe that the world’s resources are eventually going to run out, but we can delay that happening, and our future is not doomed. Because the is such talk and media coverage of the world’s resources running out optimists hope that people will alter their lifestyle and take certain measures to delay the world’s resources running out such as turning their computers off at night. Optimists also believe because of advanced technology and science, we can discover more and more alternative fuels, optimists believe that people would use alternative energy sources as it is cheap and therefore more economical. In the future optimists believe that there should be a more equal distribution of the world’s resources. Famous optimists include E.Boserup and J.Simon. Pessimists View These people believe that the world’s resources have a finite limit and could eventually run out or be damaged beyond repair. In 1970, 10 countries, known as the Club of Rome, met in order to discuss resource management. Their report, entitled ‘The Limits to Growth’, made predictions about a world where continued industrial and population growth would consume both resources and food supplies. This Club believed that population increase are the reason why world resources are running out because there is more demand for it; they put forward the idea of preventive checks. An example of one of their ideas is the one child policy; they wanted to make the one child and international policy. Famous pessimists include P.Ehrlich. Factors that are causing the World’s Resources to Decrease There are a few main factors that are causing the world’s resources to decrease. Population Because there is such a growth of population, people are needing more and more energy in their house. This is best displayed in a case study: In the year 2000 Family A (comprising of a husband and wife) used 20,000kg of energy per year. In 2002 they had their first child. Before Family A didn’t watch that much T.V., however now because their child needs entertainment, the T.V. is turned on for the whole day even if the child is not watching. So in 2003 their yearly consumption increased to 25,000kg. Now think of this on an international scale and everyday the population is using up more and more world resources. Optimists say that creating new alternative energy sources rather than using the fossil fuels up, is the way forward. Pessimists say that the way forward is to enforce an international one child policy, to over populated areas to balance the population out to one of an optimum population. However I agree with the pessimists but I don’t think there should be an international one child policy, but as a whole unit we need to find a method to achieve optimum population and taking into consideration a specific area’s carrying capacity and therefore move into the direction of sustainable development. You read "World Resources – scarcity and conflict" in category "Papers" Economic Threats Because of the current economic downturn people are turning to cheaper ways to provide heat, water and electricity to their houses they are put off by the idea of alternative energy sources such as solar panels because they can’t afford it Case Study-Diamonds (Sierra Leone) In this day and age diamonds are such a controversial issue, as most people in the West think diamonds are nice stones that are on their rings, however twenty years ago 40% of all diamonds were somehow in the process of buying/selling at least one illegal transaction was carried out, now due to the Kimberly agreement and other factors including media this figure has decreased to 25%. Diamonds are a world resource that is limited as they will eventually run out. Sierra Leone is a country located in the north west of Africa. Sierra Leone is one of the largest diamond producer in the world this is because of it’s geographical location, it’s relief and finally because it has so many mines. This is still unfortunately has not lead to the economic development of the country, because rebel troops take over the mines and take all profits. Sometimes diamonds are fought over; these diamonds are known as conflict/blood diamonds. Sierra Leone’s Conflict Diamonds In 1991, Sierra Leone a rebel force known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched assaults against the government. A military government was set up, yet this did not deter the RUF attacks. From the beginning, the RUF became allies with Liberia. Their goal was officially to combat crime and corruption but it soon became clear that their main aim was to take control of the diamond mines. The RUF would take prisoners and enslave them to work in the diamond mines. The work conditions were horrible and they were punished for the slightest things. Anyone opposed to the RUF’s methods and practices would be brutally punished. All this was unknown to – or perhaps ignored by – the outside world for many years. UN studies estimate that about $125 million worth of rough diamonds were bought by the diamond industry in Europe alone! The equivalent of this money is tens of thousands of people killed and even more hurt. It was only in 1999 that the UN deployed a mission to Sierra Leone to deal with the problem of Sierra Leone Conflcit Diamonds. Since then, sanctions have been put in place so as to curb such illegal activities. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme requires a paper trail that certifies the origin of rough diamonds. This aims to cut off the flow of diamonds from countries like Sierra Leone. The question that remains to be answered today is whether the paper trail that accompanies each diamond shipment is for real. Certificates can be forged. Rough diamonds can be smuggled into a â€Å"clean† country. After that, there would be no way of knowing where the gems came from. There is always a willing market somewhere in another country. Traders and buyers don’t always ask questions. They are just happy to buy and line their pockets. In an area inflicted with suffering and poverty, there is always an official who would be willing to accept bribes. All it takes is one person to overlook a shipment of blood diamonds. For all we know, there might still be a steady flow of rough conflict diamonds coming from the mines of Sierra Leone today. We do not know any of these facts and figures exactly as the Government is reluctant to let media or aid into the country. In 2000 the BBC published a moving article and photo about diamonds in Sierra Leone. Effects of the BBC Article and Photo The BBC article had a resounding effect on the rest f the world not only did people become more interested in where their diamonds came from, but starting to buy ethical diamonds. Also Kanye West (singer) released a controversial song about diamonds in Sierra Leone which caused more and more people to take an interest of the origins of the diamonds. Also Kanye West refused to wear any type of ‘bling’ which influenced many children. Artificial/Man made Diamonds ‘Science have finally found a way to make diamonds-Bad News for Sierra Leone’ this was a news headline a few years ago form the BBC. Everyone knew the time would come when science would be able to find a way to make diamonds. There is a plus side and down side for this, firstly the up side. If more people buy synthetic diamonds because they are cheaper, then more people would stop buying diamonds that have been sold but rebel forces. However on the down side the economy of Sierra Leone is plummeting to all time low because more and more people are buying synthetic diamonds because of the recession. The Kimberly Process The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Kimberley Process) is an international governmental certification scheme that was set up to prevent the trade in diamonds that fund conflict. Launched in January 2003, the scheme requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from blood diamonds. Case Study-Water (Across the Globe) Water is a world resource as we rely on it thoroughly and if we didn’t have the sad reality is we would die. Water is not at the moment is shortage, but the way consumption is going in the West in the next one hundred years it could well become shortage. We have a good supply of water in the West, however in LEDCs, water is quite hard to lay hands on. Water is one of the prime essentials for life as we know it. The plain fact is – no water, no life! This becomes all the more worrying when we realise that the worlds supply of drinkable water will soon diminish quite rapidly. In fact a recent report commissioned by the United Nations has emphasised that by the year 2025 at least 66% of the worlds population will be without an adequate water supply. Incalculable damage. As a disaster in the making water shortage ranks in the top category. Without water we are finished, and it is thus imperative that we protect the mechanism through which we derive our supply of this life giving fluid. Unfortunately the exact opposite is the case. We are doing incalculable damage to the planets capacity to generate water and this will have far ranging consequences for the not too distant future. Bleak future The United Nations has warned that burning of fossil fuels is the prime cause of water shortage. While there may be other reasons such as increased solar activity it is clear that this is a situation over which we can exert a great deal of control. If not then the future will be very bleak indeed! Already the warning signs are there. Droughts The last year has seen devastating heatwaves in many parts of the world including the USA where the state of Texas experienced its worst drought on record. Elsewhere in the United States forest fires raged out of control, while other regions of the globe experienced drought conditions that were even more severe. Parts of Iran, Afgahnistan, China and other neighbouring countries experienced their worst droughts on record. These conditions also extended throughout many parts of Africa and it is clear that if circumstances remain unchanged we are facing a disaster of epic proportions. Moreover it will be one for which there is no easy answer. Dangers. The spectre of a world water shortage evokes a truly frightening scenario. In fact the United Nations warns that disputes over water will become the prime source of conflict in the not too distant future. Where these shortages become ever more acute it could forseeably lead to the brink of nuclear conflict. On a lesser scale water, and the price of it, will acquire an importance somewhat like the current value placed on oil. The difference of course is that while oil is not vital for life, water most certainly is! Power shift. It seems clear then that in future years countries rich in water will enjoy an importance that perhaps they do not have today. In these circumstances power shifts are inevitable, and this will undoubtedly create its own strife and tension. Nightmare situation. In the long term the implications do not look encouraging. It is a two edged sword. First the shortage of water, and then the increased stresses this will impose upon an already stressed world of politics. It means that answers need to be found immediately. Answers that will both improve the damage to the environment, and also find new sources of water for future consumption. If not, and the problem is left unresolved there will eventually come the day when we shall find ourselves with a nightmare situation for which there will be no obvious answer. Conclusion Overall I feel that we should be optimistic about the resource management in the future however we should guard about being complacent and consequently wasteful. Science is developing quickly and in the future there will be a system of some sort to enable better management of the resources. However again this doesn’t mean we can be wasteful, also we have to make sure that we use certain resources more conservatively to ensure future generations live happily. On the other hand however if we implant many more alternative energy resources (i.e. wind power instead of coal) then future generations will use them as the norm, rather than the present day generation who have to deal with this cross over stage that we are undergoing now-the Government encouraging other sources of energy, however when we look at these the prices are sky high. To ensure that we manage resources so that it is more sustainable, I propose certain plans: 1) Increase price of electricity and gas, decrease price of alternative energy sources (for example solar panels). This would hopefully on the economic side of things encourage people to use alternative fuel. 2) Carry out a major distribution project of the world resources, ensuring each country has roughly the same amount. 3) Set up a kind of police to make sure diamonds are not being sold or mined illegally, through slavery or through violence. This will ensure the decrease the amount of conflict or blood diamonds. Finally, I have outlined five strategies for using more sustainability in my daily life: 1) Have a shower, rather than a bath. This will decrease the amount of water I use, reduce the water bills and make it more efficient cleaning process. 2) When shopping with my parents, I should encourage them to look at the label and check where the product comes from, and therefore try to get the product, which has the least food miles. 3) Encourage my parents to buy energy saving bulbs, which last longer, and are more sustainable. 4) When going out turn off my computer rather than leaving it on standby. 5) When making a cup of tea, don’t fill the kettle right to the top, as that wastes, water and energy. How to cite World Resources – scarcity and conflict, Papers

The news media has a crucial s... free essay sample

The news media has a crucial societal role in providing information to the public. Citizens rely upon this information to make informed judgments and decisions. (Censorship by Media Conglomerates Threatens Democracy) However, the news media is widely viewed as biased. Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. When related to media, the term media bias is used to refer to the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered. There are many forms of bias. Bias could be shown through selection of stories or features, resulting in one side of a story receiving more unnecessary attention. It could be shown through an absence, or omission, of certain sides of a story, also reverting attention to one side of a story. We will write a custom essay sample on The news media has a crucial s or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It could be ideological, where people present stories that support a specific world view. It could also be partisan, such as when a political bias is injected into a journalistic reporting, in programming selection, or in some other form of mass communications. Other forms of bias include reporting that favors or is against a particular religion, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnic group, or person. However, there exists a major controversy over whether or not this liberal media bias actually exists. I believe that liberal bias is in the mainstream media and that there is evidence to verify such a claim. This bias can be seen in many different ways. Media bias has an assortment of sources. It is possible that the bias reflects the world view of the owner of the media outlet. However, in the United States, big corporations own most major news organizations, and the goal of these markets is to maximize profits rather than pursue personal views. This would cause the news organizations to bias their stories to fit the demands of the audience. This is a possible incentive for a news organization to tailor their stories to a particular audience. Mark Crispin Miller, a media critic, argues that the interests of the public in a political debate and serious journalism are being compromised by corporations more interested in making money than in informing the populace. (Media Monopolies Are a Serious Problem) But firstly, to argue that the liberal mainstream media is biased, one must first prove that the mainstream media is indeed liberal. According to the article, Liberal Media Bias Is Not a Myth, opinion surveys found that 80% to 90% of the national press voted for the Democrat Party in both the Nixon/McGovern and Reagan/Mondale presidential elections, even though both Nixon and Reagan carried 49 states. In 1992, a study showed that 91% of the media members who were interviewed said that they had voted for the Democratic presidential candidate. (Wilson) By major contrast, only 43% of the public had voted for the Democratic Party that year. Also, it has been found that even the public believes that members of the media are liberals . A 2003 Gallup Poll found that 45% of Americans believe the media is too liberal. (Wilson) In summary, all the data points to a liberal mainstream media. In the United States, the journalistic philosophy in many media documents is that the press should remain neutral and objective when reporting the news, not biased and subjective. However, it can also be argued that at root, media quality is a subjective matter. (Media Consolidation Does Not Threaten Free Speech) The question is then raised: Do the beliefs of the national media affect how they report the news? Is the media doing what is best for the public interest? Media devoted to the public interest would investigate the poor performance by the CIA, the FBI, the FAA, and the CDC in order to improve those agencies for our protection. However, news teams have failed to look into these issues. (Media Monopolies Are a Serious Problem) Unbalanced reporting, or coverage adding emphasis on issues on which a party is viewed as strong by the voters can create partisan bias. Studies have found that all three major networks, PBS, NPR, and mostly all major U.S. papers constitute the liberal press and have been found to have unbalanced reporting. Among these are the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. (Liberal Media Bias Is Not a Myth). To further solidify the argument that these news organizations lean to the liberal side of things, it was revealed that in 2008, the Democratic Party received a total donation of $1,020,816 by 1,160 employees of the three major broadcast television networks, while the Republican Party received only $142,863. Lastly, when the GDP increased by 2.0 in Obamas 3rd quarter, he was praised by the New York Times. However, going back to the same October of 1992, Bushs 2.7 GDP growth was said to be disappointing.