Understanding our Government

 

A few weeks ago, I posted a diagram of how our government works.  You may want to return to that blog to review the diagram; however, I hope you enjoy this additional explanation of our system.

First of all, I want to explain something that may be confusing.  The provosion of checks and balances has three separate but equal branches of the Government--the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch.  However, within the first branch there are two different houses--the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.  Together, they are spoken of as the legislative branch, but they operate separately. 

  The Legislative Branch.  The House of Representatives, known as the Lower House, is so important because it makes and passes Federal Laws, including the power to initiate all revenue bills.  It also is entrusted to initiate the impeachment of the President.   The United States Senate is referred to as the Upper House.  In a way, they are the watchdogs on the House and the President.  They have the power to pass or defeat federal legislation, to approve or reject treaties, and to revoke or approve the impeachment of the President. They also have the power to vote up or down the president's choices for his Cabinet.  This check & balance on the President's choices is not intended necessarily to be a party vote but rather an evaluation of the qualities of the persons selected for the job,  

The Executive Branch.  Now to the Executive Branch, headed by the President of the United States.  The President is charged with implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress.  He is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and he selects the members of his cabinet, subject to the approval by the Senate.  

The Judicial Branch.  The third branch, part of the effort of the founding fathers to create a balance of power from becoming too strong for any one branch, is the legal branch.  Article III of the Constitution invests the judicial power of the United States in the federal court system, but Article III gives Congress the power to establish inferior courts, the authority to create the lower federal courts, and the ability to decide how to organize it, which has included over the years altering the number of Associate Justices.     

The genius of the Founding Fathers was to create a system of checks and balances.   Each branch has its own authority but is subject to the check of another part of the system.  These checks and balances keep any one part of the system from assuming full control.  Our system fails if the checks and balances are ignored.    If any branch attempts to dominate another branch by intruding into its authority. our system is threatened.  If we as citizens do not understand the importance of the Three Branch system or intentionally facilitates wrongful use, we threaten our democracy.  

Unfortunately, most of us do not fully understand exactly how this works.  I don't recall a civics class in school, although some schools have included civics' classes.  The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey found that less than half could name all three branches of government. When asked to name the protections in the First Amendment, Freedom of speech was cited by only 62%, Religion by 24%, Freedom of the Press by 20%, Right of Assembly by 16%, and the right to petition the government only 6%.  All of these were down from previous survives. 

If we are to protect and preserve our precious Constitution, we must know how it works.  The survey quoted above suggests that too many of us have neglected that responsibility.        

What is Important?

It is an election year, and if you have a television you have probably had enough of being told who to vote for!  I do think it is important that people vote.  I also think we have a responsibility to take voting seriously.  I am grateful to people in our communities who are willing to take the responsibility to run for school boards, city offices, or even serve on committees that are so important to our communities.  Without those willing to give of their time, we could not have the functioning communities we have.  But this is an election year to choose the President of the United States, and I have been giving that a lot of thought.  What do I think is important in deciding who deserves my vote?

First, the president needs to be a lot smarter than I am!  Can you imagine the responsibility, the constant issues a president must be prepared to handle?  The sacrifice of personal time for yourself and your family, the constant need to be aware that you must consider whatever you say, whatever you wear, whomever you appear with, even in casual situations, for you will be judged.  That is more than most of us can even imagine.  And, none of that is even really about the huge responsibilities of assuming that office.  However, beyond those things, here are some things I think are important to consider in evaluating a candidate for the presidency, and other government offices.

First, I think maturity is important.  Some people mature faster than others, but even the smartest young people need to have experienced life as an adult for a while to learn a few lessons.  By law, our Presidents and Vice-Presidents must be 35, Senators must be 30, and Members of the House must be 25.  In Kansas, the Govenor must be 25, to serve in the Upper House 18, the Lower House 18, Lieutenant Govenor 25, and Attorney General and Secretary of State do not have an age requirement apparently.  I almost hate to include the ages for members of the House for fear some 18 year olds will read this and run for office!

Unfortunately, Maturity is not always about your age.  Courtesy, Respect for the office you hold, and just a politeness for the fact that people thought you would represent them with a sense of dignity seems important to me.  Ignoring traditions, customs of dress, and declining to appear at traditional occasions seem disrespectful of the office you are honored to hold, in my opinion.  

I also believe education and experience are important.  Perhaps I should say education + experience are important.  Just having gone to college does not ensure that you have an education, nor are people who received an education by reading and observing and working necessarily uneducated.  President Truman had very little post high school education, but he served in the military and he read.  It was his opinion that a President needed knowledge of American history, as well as world history, and he read on his own to be educated about those things.  History is difficult to teach to young students, for whom 20 years ago seems ancient, but knowledge of history is important to all of us, and it is essential to presidents.

Knowledge of the American Constitution is essential not only to every office holder but also to every American.  How can we know if those we elect are respectful of our constitution if we haven't read it?  And how can politicians do their jobs effectively if they haven't read it?

Sometimes the education and practice of certain jobs are helpful to politicians.  For many years, most of our presidents had served in the military, and I think that was a good thing.  Today, however, recent presidents have not had that training. Many presidents have been trained in the law, and that can be an asset.  An educated understanding of finance can be helpful, as well as a business management background.  We have also elected Presidents with a background in Education.

These are a few of the things I consider when I vote.  However, there is something else that seems important to me.  Whomever the person who has received the honor of election to office is, he or she should respect the dignity of the office and the honor they have been given by being elected by voters.  Of course, people who run for office must be confident of their abilities, but over confidence and arrogance are not traits that I admire.   

I read a lot of history, and even the best of presidents have had their flaws.  However, some have done remarkably well in difficult times. A few, not too well.  In a world in which our weapons are so horrible, and where the wonders of the internet include the dangers of spreading misinformation that they do, and AI is getting frighteningly capable of surpassing our human minds, we cannot elect presidents that don't measure up.