Boundaries

Chloe-Amelie Aikman
Grade 8
Ms. Fisher

Boundaries
Stability, security, and equality these three ideals are what
Americas government strives to uphold. Each of the three branches
is unique in both purpose and distribution of power; the Legislative
Branch oversees foreign relations, has the authority to declare war,
and is in charge of taxes/laws. It is made up of the House of Senate,
House of Representatives, and Congress. The Executive Branch
includes the President, accompanied by the Cabinet, to carry out
laws. The last branch, the Judicial Branch, is characterized most by
the Supreme Court, an office in which nine Supreme Court Justices
are nominated to evaluate laws and ensure they abide by the
constitution. In the end, each branch has a part to play in the United
States government, and the separation of these powers is essential
to the balance and objectivity of the jobs they perform.
The concept of these three branches is often equated to that of
a three-legged stool; each leg holding up and ensuring balance in
the metaphorical stool of America. If one leg is corrupted, the whole
structure is thrown into the wobbles of anarchy. The Founding
Fathers sought out balance from the beginning; after experiencing
unequal representation at the hands of King George III, they
engineered a system to serve. They ensured officials within the
system were either elected or nominated in the peoples interests.

On top of that, checks and balances were created for equal

distribution of power; for example, the Judicial Branch can declare
laws from the Legislative Branch unconstitutional. The Executive
Branch, in turn, checks the Judicial Branch by appointing its Judges.
The Legislative Branch further checks the Executive Branch by being
able to override Presidential vetoes. This system of checks and
balances is crucial, as it is the support system that ensures each
branch stays within its boundaries.
Despite all this, though, occasionally a branch oversteps. In
recent news, the FBI and Apple have been debating the issue of
privacy over security. The FBI, an organization under the Executive
Branch, abused its power trying to access a terrorists phone by
ordering Apple to write software to bypass iPhone security. The
Fourth Amendment of the Constitution reads, The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.
While there is probable cause to search that particular phone, there
is no cause to search everyones. To create such a device would be
accepting its use for good and ill, and the risk it puts all iPhone
customers at. Its existence puts this right at risk. Absolute power
absolutely corrupts and access to everyones information is just
that.

Overall, It is not just necessary to have a balance of power, it is

crucial. Checks and balances were created to make sure the
government stayed true in its purpose to serve the people. Without
it, the America the Founding Fathers envisioned would be nothing
more than a dream that never came to fruition.

Works Cited:
Benner, Katie, Eric Lichtblau, and Nick Wingfield. "Apple Goes to
Court, and F.B.I. Presses Congress to Settle IPhone Privacy
Fight." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Feb.
2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/technology/appleunlock-iphone-fbi-san-bernardino-brief.html?_r=0>.
"Checks and Balances." Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government. GPO,
n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. <http://bensguide.gpo.gov/j-checkbalance?highlight=WyJjaGVja3MiLCJiYWxhbmNlcyJd>.
Friedman, Barry, and Orin Kerr. "The Fourth Amendment." National
Constitution Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
<http://constitutioncenter.org/interactiveconstitution/amendments/amendment-iv>.
History.com Staff. "American Revolution History." History.com. A+E
Networks, 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/americanrevolution/american-revolutionhistoryhttp://www.history.com/topics/americanrevolution/american-revolution-history>.
"The House Explained." Branches of Government House.gov. U.S.
House of Representatives, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2016.

<http://www.house.gov/content/learn/branches_of_governm
ent/>.