Checks And Balances Essay Example for Free

Checks And Balances Essay When the Framers of the Constitution set out to create a government, they made sure that one of the fundamental principles underlining the government would be the separation of powers. This separation of powers outlines the numerous powers and functions of the government by dividing them into separate independent levels and branches of the federal government. The Founders believed that by creating separate branches of government, it would help limit the powers of the national government and prevent tyranny. Therefore, the legislative branch has power, under the Constitution, to make laws. The executive branch, headed by the President, executes or carries out laws. Last but not least, the Constitution established the Supreme Court to head the judicial branch, which interprets and applies the law in federal court cases. Read more: How does federalism prevent tyranny essay The principle of separation of powers, as implemented in drafting the Constitution, was based on several values generally held: the separation of government into three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial; the idea that each branch performs its own unique and identifiable functions that are appropriate to each; and the limitation of the personnel of each branch to that branch, so that no one person or group should be able to serve in more than one branch simultaneously. Since the judicial, executive, and legislative branch of the government all held power, the framers began to develop a system of checks and balances to guarantee that governmental power would not be conducted in an abusive manner. However, the constitution went much further than the mere separation of powers. It also established an elaborate system of checks and balances. The framers believed that in order to steer clear of a monarchy such as the one they had been used to under Britain’s rule, they would have to come up with a system of checks and balances which still prevails to this day. By implementating this system of checks and balances, they would ensure that each branch would prevent the other from abusing their powers. This theory of checks and balances began from the underlying idea of separations of power. Madison and the other Framers considered separation of powers essential in order to avoid a tyranny. The framers came to the conclusions that there was a desperate need for the Constitution to execute a set of checks and balances. Under this system, each branch has the obligation and power to make  decisions on certain issues. However, each branch will still require voluntary support from the other branches if its initiatives are to be successfully implemented. By successfully separating the power that each branch holds, the framers would be able to guarantee a practical balance of power amongst the different branches of government. The operation of checks and balances in the federal government is spelled out in the Constitution. The two houses of Congress legislate separately, and this legislation is subject to presidential veto; however, Congress, by a two-thirds vote of each house, can override a presidential veto. The judicial branch, in determining cases, may declare legislation unconstitutional, but the judiciary itself is subject to executive and legislative checking through the appointment of judges and the passage of legislation governing organization, procedure, and jurisdiction of the courts. There also is a possibility of amendment of the Constitution to reverse judicial determinations. Other constitutional checks are the possible legislative removal of the president and of judges by impeachment as well as approval by the Senate of treaties and major presidential appointments. From this we can conclude that the Framers implemented this system of checks and balances because it was viewed as extremely necessary in maintaining a balance of power among elected officials. It would prevent any one particular group from obtaining a majority influence is essential when having a government that is ruled by the people. Checks and balances and the separation of powers are vital mechanisms to ensure the smooth running of democracy. This complex system is extremely necessary in a democratic system because it promotes equality. Equality is the foundation of a democracy and the purpose of American independence. The goal of American politics is to have a government that is successfully ruled in the interest of the people. To have our countries leaders immune to the same laws that they pass for the citizens contradicts the very democracy that they uphold. Checks and balances function to guarantee that no one body or group of people ever are able to have so much power that they are able to unreasonably influence the legal system or law making of a country. Ensuring that any new law has to go through a system of intense scrutiny, for example, is one way of helping to ensure the long and successful life of democracy. I think something often overlooked in the United States government and the checks and balances  provided for by the founding fathers is the people. The final check and balance is the American public who can vote individuals into or out of political positions. It paves way to democracy because voters are given the power to elect official out of office if they are not doing their job. There are also critics who are against the separation of powers and checks and balances concepts. They pointed out that such arrangements make policy making more cumbersome and time consuming than it needs to be and that in fact it can result easily in a deadlock in which government is unable to take any action at all. Moreover, it is also said to be undemocratic, in that it places barriers to the absolute power of the majority to determine public policy by imposing on majorities the need to bargain with minorities that have managed to gain disproportionate influence on one or another branch or level of the federal system of multiple governmental institutions. For these reasons, political thinkers who see government as the primary instrumentality for the community to successfully combat or adjust to an on-going series of emergencies that have no other possible remedy tend to be very suspicious of such decentralized power arrangements. On the other hand, political thinkers that see society and the economy as largely self-regulating organisms that need relatively little in the way of new policy initiatives from government for their successful functioning tend to take a more favorable view of checks and balances. The press has also been described as the fourth check on power because of its considerable influence over public opinion in which it exercise by widely distributing facts and opinions about the various branches of government. Public opinion in turn affects the outcome of elections, as well as indirectly influencing the branches of government by, for example, expressing public sentiment with respect to pending legislation. An example of the press checking abuses of power was Watergate scandal; where two Washington Post reporters exposed government corruption and cover-up at the highest levels. This exposure caused many individuals to resign, be fired, or prosecuted. The impact of Watergate on American Politics was felt on multiple levels. The most elemental of these was how the news media evolved into the fourth check on the government. From Watergate, politicians understood that the media could be strong enough to bring down a government. Essentially, Woodward and Bernsteins reporting took down a sitting President. Through Watergate, the  office of the President, and all politicians, understood the power of the media. Another impact of Watergate was that it was living proof that no politician could operate for a prolonged period of time above the law. Power could not save President Nixon and his cabinet from facing impeachment, and eventual resignation/ prison terms. The Constitutions belief of equality before the law was affirmed through Watergate. The last impact of Watergate was that politicians understood the value of judicious conduct.

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz :: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz Duddy's obsession with land lies within his grandfather, Simcha. When Duddy was small, he spoke those unforgettable words to him, "A man without land is nobody." When it seemed as if nobody cared or respected him, Simcha did. Duddy did not receive the same kind of love from his father or uncle as Lennie did.   When Duddy comes back from work at, he asks, "Why [Max] didn't answer any of [his] letters?"   He replies he wasn't "one for letters." "But Duddy remembered that when Lennie had worked as a camp counsellor one summer his father had written every week.   He had driven out to visit him twice."(pp. 104 & 105) Duddy did not have the same kind of affection and devotion Lennie and Max shared.   The same situation came from his uncle, Benjy. At first sight, Benjy described him as having a "thin crafty face, the quick black eyes and the restlessness_the grain so shrewd and knowing, all made a bad impression on Uncle Benjy." (p. 61)   Benjy supported Lennie, giving him money for his education.   With the exception of Simcha, he had no other parental support which is the reason why Simcha words had such a great effect on him. Duddy gains what he had wanted in its acquisition, respect. Everyone except Simcha, Mr. MacPherson, and Uncle Benjy thought he was going to be a nobody.   He wanted so much to prove them wrong and he has.   We may say he has gained self assurance, restating the fact he was a somebody important.   Since his days at Fletcher's Field High School, he ran a gang based on respect, not friendship.   Things do not change when he becomes an adult. Virgil is just one of the people Duddy uses to get money for his land.   He feels no grief for hurting his so called friends because he has never experienced true friendship.   His purchasing of land would push him into higher step in society.   What he gains is nothing compared to what he loses. Duddy has lost his innocence.   No longer is he the pure and na†¹ve

Funny Persuasive Speech

Evaluate whether it's worth it to lie to your teacher. If you are already at school and simply forgot to do it, then you're probably out of luck here. But if you are at home the night before and just don't want to do your homework, think about your options. Teachers are generally forgiving of those students who forget their homework on rare occasions; they get mad at those ones who repeatedly forget. So, before you decide not to do your homework and to come up with an excuse instead, ask yourself whether it's worth it to waste your teacher's patience on this assignment. After all, there may come a time where you really need to use an excuse.Don't just take the easy way out now if it will cost you later. But once you have decided that you need an excuse†¦ 2 Spend time thinking about possible explanations that sound believable. In other words, these will need to be things which could realistically and likely occur with anyone (regardless of whether or not they are actually true) t hat the teacher, who gave you the assignment, is not likely to easily dismiss away in their mind as nonsense. A good way to start might be to ask yourself what kind of excuse would personally sound believable to you, or alternatively ask a trusted person you know for ideas.Some examples of what might work include: The good old â€Å"My dog ate my homework† excuse. If you don't have a dog, this one certainly won't work, but keep in mind that you can use a friend's dog, especially if you had a friend with her pet come over the last couple days. Better yet, take a piece of scratch paper or notebook paper, and tear it up into a few sizes of chunks ranging small to large. If you really want to trick them out, go to a joke store and buy a package of fake dog drool, only fifteen cents cost worthy. Rub the drool over the pieces of paper, leaving it a little wet but not too soaked.If you don't want to buy the fake drool just use water. Tell your teacher that you had an emergency at yo ur house at the time you would have normally finished the work, and that's the reason why – on this occasion – it's not been done. Saying you've had other homework assignments which clashed with the deadline date for this one, and that this got in the way (it's advisable to ask nicely for a deadline extension after). Saying that you accidentally lost the homework instructions, and haven't realised it until now. For essays, say that you can't get it printed because your printer is running out of ink or you left it in the printer.For online assignments, tell them that your computer crashed last night or your internet got cut off. For homework assignment that requires a book, tell them that you left the book at home or in your locker. 3 Think about how your teacher could find out that you are lying. If you go to a smaller school, make sure not to use the same excuse over and over again, because it is likely that other teachers already know that you have used an excuse. Al so, think about whether the teacher could possibly talk to anyone else who could reveal your lie.For example, if you use the â€Å"family emergency† excuse, think about whether the teacher is likely to call your parents to confirm your story. Adjust your excuse accordingly. 4 Prepare to not be believed. Your teacher has likely heard a thousand excuses before, so prepared when he or she questions your excuse. Come up with an interesting back-story that is detailed but not too crazy. If you get nervous and stumble over your words when your teacher questions you, then he or she is not likely to believe that you are telling the truth. 5Prepare to come up with even more excuses. If, for example, you say that your printer was broken and you could not print your assignment, your teacher will probably ask you why you didn't email it to a friend and have them print it out. In this case, be ready to make up another excuse, and maybe a few more after that. This applies to many of the ex amples listed above, such as forgetting your book or having your computer crash. 6 Be polite and pitiable. When you tell your teacher that you did not do your homework, be as polite and regretful as possible.Offer to have it in ASAP, and beg for forgiveness. Also, portray yourself as the victim of the situation. Shift blame to your dog, computer, etc. , as long as it is shifted away from you. It may be helpful in this situation to cry, if you can manage good fake tears. 7 Stick to your story. Your teacher might not believe you, but if you are convincing and committed, it will be hard for them to know for sure that you are lying. However, be prepared to work extra-hard for at least a couple of weeks to restore your teacher's trust.

The Big Five Personality Traits And Factor Theories From...

Describe the â€Å"Big Five† personality traits. Trait and Factor Theories from Eysenck, McCrae, and Costa’s: Like Eysenck, McCrae and Costa’s thought that personality â€Å"traits are bipolar and follow a bell-shaped distribution.† Those who take the Big Five personality trait test tend to score in the middle (neither high or low) of the bell curve of each trait, and that only a few people score close to the five basic dimensions, a high, or low to the extremes. (Feist Feist, 2008, p.422) http://www.simplypsychology.org/Eysenck-traits.jpg TABLE 14.1- Costa and McCrae’s Five-Factor Model of Personality The â€Å"Big Five† factor model include these five basic dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. 1. Open to Experience V Practical a. Openness (High Scores): Imaginative, creative, original, prefers variety, curious, and liberal b. Practical (Low Scores): Down-to-earth, uncreative, conventional, prefers routine, uncurious, and conservative 2. Conscientiousness V Spontaneous: a. Conscientiousness (High Scores): Conscientious, hardworking, well-organized, punctual, ambitious, and persevering b. Spontaneousness (Low Scores): Negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, and quitting 3. Extraversion V Introversion: a. Extraversion (High Scores): Affectionate, joiner, talkative, fun loving, active, and passionate b. Introversion (Low Scores): Reserved, loner, quiet, sober, passive, and unfeeling 4. Agreeableness V Independence: a.Show MoreRelatedCosta And Mccrae s Five Factor Theory Of Personality And Eysenck s Pen Theory1496 Words   |  6 Pages Both Costa and McCrae’s Five Factor theory of personality and Eysenck’s PEN theory have been the subject of significant research in an effort to better understand human personality. 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