Knowledge Hoop

There has been a lot of rhetoric by politicians on who’s to blame for the current state of our economy.  We recently had a mid-term election that many of us didn’t take time to vote in because we didn’t think it was important.  Many Americans are out of work and their spirits are low.  Although there are signs of economic recovery, it’s not happening fast enough for most of us.  As I began to ponder the direction of this posting, I decided to provide a quick review of our government structure and the role of “we the people”.  That being said, let’s take a trip down memory lane to the 5th grade.

Our government is made up of three branches.  A quick overview of each branch is included below:

1. Legislative Branch.  The Congress.  The Congress is comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate.  The primary duty of Congress is to write, debate, and pass bills, which are then submitted to the president for final approval.  Bills are laws or policies that help to govern our Country.  Because of the recent tax bill, I want to place emphasis on a specific job that the House of Representatives has.  The House is the only governmental body that can start laws that make people pay taxes.  A key job to highlight for the Senate is that they have the final say on anyone that the President recommends for jobs (i.e., Cabinet offices, Supreme Court Justices, and Ambassadors).
2.  Judicial.  The judicial branch of the government is made up of the court system, with the highest court being the Supreme Court.  As a refresher, the courts interpret the meanings of laws, how they’re applied, and whether they align with the rules of the Constitution.
3. Executive.  The executive branch of government makes sure that the laws of our Country are obeyed.  The President is the head of the executive branch.  This branch is comprised of :
   • President – leads the country, commands the military
   • Vice President – President of the Senate and steps in as President of the country if the President can no longer do the job
   • Departments & Independent Agencies – advises the President, and helps to carry out policy and special services

So, what does this mean to “the people”?  All branches of government are important.  While the role of the President is very important, and the Office does indeed influence policy that the legislative branch passes, the President does not run the country alone.    Historically, we’ve placed significant emphasis on the presidential election, while minimal attention is given to mid-term elections that have a significant impact on the make-up of the legislative branch of our government.  Remember that this is the branch of government that is responsible for creating policy that impacts our economy (i.e., stimulus bill, tax bill, etc.).

I never thought that I’d say this, but we blamed President Bush for the state of affairs during his presidency without holding Congress accountable for their actions.   We are now doing the same thing to President Obama.  Make no mistake, I believe that leaders should be held accountable for their decisions, but this holds true for all leaders.  Congress should not be able to blame the President for everything that’s wrong in our country.  I cringe when I hear Bush tax cuts and Obama care. 

As a result of the recent mid-term election, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.  I am personally in favor of a balanced approach as long as it does not create a stalemate.  I am not a proponent of one party controlling the three branches of government.  I do not believe that it is representative of “the people” that make our country great.  It does not celebrate our differences.  Although I am somewhat concerned about how we will pay for all of the concessions that are being given to try and boost the economy, I do believe that the recent tax bill was necessary and to some degree balanced.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your trip down memory lane, and the refresher on our governmental structure.  Now, what can you do?  Remember to stay abreast of the decisions that your elected officials are making and hold them accountable during election time.  Do you know who your elected officials are?  If not, that’s your first assignment.  This information can be found by visiting www.votesmart.org.  In 2011, there will be a lot of noise in the media because we are approaching a presidential election year.  You will need to be able to separate facts from fiction.  We have a lot to do before the 2012 election.  Roll up your sleeves and become a part of the solution.