Who has the most power in our nation right now, the president, congress, the judicial branch or the media?

Question

List these four in order starting with the most powerful, then if you like explain why.
This is my order:

Media
Judicial
President
Congress

Media whether or not they care to admit it is biased one way or the other and will sway the country to one way or the other. Case in point, the survey they always liked to put out: Are you happy with the direction that the country is going? And of course you are going to get 80% to 90% unsatistfied because the conservatives are unhappy about immigration or gay marriage or something, then of course in addition you have the left who have hated republican control of both houses and the presidency. The way they made this poll appear though when the presented it, is that 80% to 90% hated Bush and the then conservative congress.
I'm not saying that Bush didn't dig his own grave (politically), but the media certainly did have his grave plot reserved.

Judges- Unaccountable to anyone. Do as they please, what they feel and say goes.

Answer 1

Bob ... When you ask about the most power, I guess you're referring to political power. I tend to agree with your views, your comments, as well as the order in which you listed the media and the government's branches. I'd only add that I tend to believe that the gap between the branches of government is not very far out of balance. But I will give the edge to the Judiciary at this point just as you did.

It seems that some of the courts are now in the business of making sure that every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed ... and if they can find ANYthing that's less than perfect, it gives these judges and courts the opportunity to interject their OWN interpretation of how the law should read.

I don't know why it happens so often, but if you follow the media closely (and it sounds as though you do), you may have read that the left-leaning 9th Circuit Court of Appeals gets over-ruled more often than any other court. Isn't that odd? Presuming all cases/issues heard by the 9th are typical of the matters taken to the other circuit courts, I have to wonder why they're over-ruled so, so often. Might it be because they're interjecting bias or they use different "colored glasses" than the other courts?

I don't frankly know where things are headed, but with the help of talk radio and TV's news commentary programs, things have steadily been intensifying. While I don't quite think we're headed for civil war, things are clearly heating up. It almost makes me wish that we didn't have instantaneous access to everything that goes on everywhere. But I guess we're somehow better for having as much information as we have.

So, thanks for a good question, Bob. It was very well thought-out and excellently written, too. Good luck to you, sir.

P.S.: When it comes to the way that the courts hand out punishment (sentences), I wish they'd handle each case as if THEY were the innocent victims of the crime. Would this increase the severity of the sentences? Yes, I'm sure it would. And I think this manner of thinking is valid because to me and MY family, our livelihoods are just as important to me as the judge's family is to him. So, they should take crimes/offenses personally and restore/improve the sense of justice that victims always long for.

Thanks, Bob. The best to you.

Answer 2

It's a tie between the judges and the media.

The judges don't even follow the laws anymore. They just legislate from the bench instead of INTERPRETING the laws as they are supposed to do.

However, it is the media that has a huge influence on these judges. They believe that the media reflects the opinions of America. Which is total hogwash since the vast majority of journalists are registered Democrats. (I believe it's around 90%.)

Congress is supposed to be the most powerful, but they listen to the media to try to decide what America wants. Since there are so many of them fighting over the same power, they actually have very little.

And the President is mostly a figurehead. He guides Congress and the country, but he can't do anything against the will of the masses. Do you hear that people? He can not declare war. Congress must vote on it, and they did.

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Answer 3

I know it is hard for some to believe but those polls are usually pretty accurate. Within 3 or so percentage points. Media are likely to be slightly higher or lower depending on their slant. The polls to watch are the indepenent ones. They usually are close to the media polls too but,again, there is a few percentage points for errs. So if the polls are saying that 80 percent of the American population is dissatisfied with how things are going that means it is probably somewhere between 77% and 82% still not a very good picture.

Answer 4

The People.

Answer 5

in India system president is considered to be the supreme authority,but we can see as a fact that the prime minister of India is more power full,taking decisions and other matters concerning the nation.president can only sing or refuse,he is needed only to authorize armed forces action in time of war or related issues,usually Indian presidents role is a glorified sing authority,judiciary comes second,any legal action can be taken against any person no matter how high he holds position in the society through proper means of law,law is one and it does distinguish between any citizens or non citizens of India.our constitution says every body is below the law,law holds a strict vigil over every ones action.media comes third,even though Tod's media is partial its voice is strong,it has a great role in expos sing many high profile incidents and corruption on various levels of the society,it also speak for the public in certain cases,it is to noted that pen has got power to topple the ruling government,finally the parties,it is a group of people idea which it can influence a section of society and they speak for the nation,i don't think this is a major force,even though some situations it is a major force.there many other factors are also there.so above said is what i think.

Answer 6

Media comes in at number one. They tell people how to think by spinning the news in the light they want. The judicial branch comes in number 2 because they are beholden to nobody and can and,unfortunately, do, legislate from the bench. I think it is a toss up between the next 2. I would give the edge to Congress because they put lots of pork in legislation that they know is important and that the President dare not veto.

Answer 7

i would have to agree on your list. the only addition i would make are the lobbyists. i think they should be #2. they influence our lawmakers a great deal more than people realize and probably influence media as well. media influence the general public. unfortunately, there are many many people in this country who cannot see through the spin. too many americans jump on a bandwagon just because it's the popular thing to do. e.g. the soccer moms with the bumper sticker that says "no blood for oil", as they drive their sherman tanks around town looking for that perfect eyeshadow.

Answer 8

Within the executive branch itself, the president has broad powers to manage national affairs and the workings of the federal government. The president can issue rules, regulations, and instructions called executive orders, which have the binding force of law upon federal agencies but do not require congressional approval. As Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, the president may also call into federal service the state units of the National Guard. In times of war or national emergency, the U.S. Congress may grant the president even broader powers to manage the national economy and protect the security of the United States. These actions have been taken by Presidents from Washington to today but are not powers granted by the Constitution to the President. In fact, Congress is the body constitutionally given the power to call forth the national guard.

Abraham Lincoln 16th President (1861-1865)The President nominates — and the Senate confirms — the heads of all executive departments and agencies, together with hundreds of other high-ranking federal officials. (See United States Cabinet, Executive Office of the President.) In 2003, more than 3000 based on ability and experience.

The President is also responsible for preparing the budget of the United States, although the Congress must approve it. (See Office of Management and Budget)

Legislative powers
Despite the constitutional provision that "all legislative powers" granted to the federal government are vested in the U.S. Congress, the president, as the chief formulator of public policy, has a major legislative role. The president can veto any Act of Congress, and, unless two-thirds of the members of each house vote to override the veto, the bill does not become law.

Much of the legislation dealt with by Congress is drafted at the initiative of the executive branch. In annual and special messages to Congress, the president may propose legislation he believes is necessary. The most important of these is the annual State of the Union Address traditionally given in January. Before a joint session of Congress, the President outlines the status of the country and his legislative proposals for the upcoming year. If Congress should adjourn without acting on those proposals, the president has the power to call it into special session. But beyond this official role, the president, as head of a political party and as principal executive officer of the United States government, is primarily in a position to influence public opinion and thereby to influence the course of legislation in Congress.

Theodore Roosevelt 26th President (1901-1909)To improve their working relationships with Congress, presidents in recent years have set up a Congressional Liaison Office in the White House. Presidential aides keep abreast of all important legislative activities and try to persuade senators and representatives of both parties to support administration policies.

Judicial powers
Among the president's constitutional powers is that of appointing important public officials. Presidential nomination of federal judges, including members of the Supreme Court, is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Another significant power is that of granting a full or conditional pardon to anyone convicted of breaking a federal law — except in a case of impeachment. The pardoning power has come to embrace the power to shorten prison terms and reduce sentences.

Answer 9

President - the line-item veto tipped the scales here....thanks Bill
Congress - can pass amendments which can't be touched by the judges, can set up organizations with more power than God
Judicial - completely ignore the Constitution now.
Media - HUGE influence....no direct power.

Answer 10

Move president to the bottom and you have the order right. The president has as much power going up against the others as the man on the moon. The people who get elected president is decided well in advance to the election. They are decided at the Bilderberger meetings. The person who wants to get elected the most has to go into a room full of Jewish bankers. They frig him and make him suck each off. If he does a better job he gets the job. All of our presidents have had Jewish balls in their face this past century. www.jewwatch.com