Government - The System of Balance of Power - Essay Example

Government In a democratic political system, the individuals are granted the power to elect their representatives in order to establish the administration of their own choice. Such governments, as it is generally considered, pass bills, make laws, implement them and issue executive orders in the best interest of the public. It is an assumption that the stronger the national government, the better be its position to introduce a powerful establishment in order to work freely without any external threat or internal pressure. But sometimes it so happens that a sovereign government acts in such a manner that it could challenge the autonomy and independence of other institutions of the state. Hence, balance of power is imperatively obligatory in order to let all the institutions exercise their abilities and powers according to the provisions of the prevailing constitution. But if an institution is delegated the extraordinary authority to do anything out of its own will for running its business, it may put the powers of other institutions of the state in grave jeopardy. Similarly, that institution may interfere and intermeddle in the matters of other departments, without their free consent, by reducing and confining the sphere of their action. On the contrary, diminution of the magnitude of authority related to the executive through check and balance and separation of power as well may confine and limit the power of the government in respect of taking necessary actions on urgent basis according to the political situation of the country. It is not only against the benefit of the nation at large, but also can delay the action supposed to be taken swiftly. Renowned political philosopher and ex- President of the USA James Madison, in his article under-analysis, throws light on the significance of the separation of power and the system of check and balance for the best interests of the country on the one hand, and for the welfare of the masses on the other. In addition, he argues how such restriction affects the business of governmental affairs because of the implementation of check and balance system. Madison looks for a strong and comprehensive system of check and balance for the adequate and proper working of all departments and organizations within a socio-political establishment. He is of the opinion that since political institutions consists of humans, not angels, which can commit mistakes and blunders while exercising their duties and obligations, and can take such measures that come under the definition of excesses. Thus, there must be a regularity authority to keep an eye on the activities of every institution of state including the executive, legislature and judiciary, and can manage to prevent these institutions to deviate from the powers given to them through the provisions of the constitution. Hence, the check and balance system and control over institutions are highly supportive in respect of administering the affairs of government in an apposite and pertinent manner. It may also be helpful to evade the mistakes committed by any of the institutions in one way or the other. Taking the example of the famous Versailles Treaty, the national government of the USA had entered into the agreement with its allies i.e. Great Britain, France and Italy, to impose very cruel, ruthless and harsh terms on the vanquished countries including Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of WWI. Since the treaty served as an unjust agreement, which contained the germs of another war in it, the US Congress refused to ratify it altogether. The bill related to Versailles Treaty of 1919 was presented in the US Congress time and again, but every time the parliament pocked formidable wheel on its way and finally refused to approve the same. (Mahajan, 2002) The US constitution does not allow the interference of one institution into the affairs of others. Hence, the decisions taken by the national government under President Wilson could not become the part of the US constitution. The parliament is stated to be the supreme institution of a political set up, which elects national government and is responsible for safeguarding the wellbeing of the nation by making policies and implementing them effectively. However, sometimes it works at a snail’s pace while entering into long debates and discussions in respect of passing the bills, which proves as the serious obstacle on the way of the executive. Consequently, the national government is unable to take immediate steps at the hour of need. It is therefore, the constitution allows the national government the authority of making policies and revising them according to the political, social and economic circumstances of the state. Similarly, sometimes the executive also looks determined to take incorrect and hasty decisions in order to run the affairs of the government; which Madison views as intemperance and hedonism, as these decisions can turn out to be fatal and harmful for the national cause and prestige. Hence, extraordinary liberty and freedom can put the image of the state at stake. Since all the political institutions are inter-connected, where one institution maintains the command to nominate the members of the other institution, the complete and absolute separation of authority is not possible. For instance, legislature has the authority to elect the executive and the executive enjoys the power to appoint the members of judiciary. The best possible way of preventing interference of one department into the other is minimizing such power to a great extent. (Madison, 1787) Thus, the decrease in communication level between the members of different institutions will be supportive in mitigating unnecessary inter-departmental interference. Not only this that the institutions can work according to the authority delegated to them, but also it will let them make decisions without any external fear or pressure upon them. Nevertheless, balance of power between the departments stops the government from taking such actions that serve as serious offences on the part of the government. During the recent years, when the USA decided to invade on Iraq, several of the Congressmen and Congresswomen strictly condemned it and forbade the then US government from applying the unnecessary power for taming and subjugating Iraq. Thus, the government had to wait for many weeks for making plans of invasion on Iraq in 2003 because of the system of check and balance. In the aftermath of the war, the world witnessed that the member of the US Congress were justified in opposing the antagonism and aggression the USA exercised on the poor Iraqis, where the shameful atrocities and ruthlessness committed by the nasty US soldiers in Abu Ghuraib Prison of Baghdad has become one of the most condemnable incidents of human history. One of the US senators i.e. Tammy Baldwin views that she had persistently opposed the invasion on Iraq, which would not be helpful in respect of detection of the weapons of mass destruction. So, the government should have adopted some other way including negotiation through an international agency, so that the lives of the US soldiers could be saved along with the falling prestige of the US might. (Retrieved from tammybaldwin.house.gov) To conclude, it becomes evident that Madison has justifiably supported and advocated in favor of the system of balance of power as well as check and balance in order to examine the proper working of different institutions of a political establishment. He is of the opinion that checks and balances not only help in respect of exchanging the views of the people belonging to different departments, but also prove beneficial in devising a powerful political strategy. Had the US Congress not resisted on the governmental decision of invading on Iraq, thousands of more US soldiers would have become the prey to the nefarious clutches of the aggression being exercised in the Middle East. Hence, the condemnable scheme designed and implemented by the war-crazy George Bush by superseding the US Congress ended in fiasco and added to the humiliation of the USA at large. Works Cited Madison, James The Federalist no. 51 Mahajan, V. D. International Relations Chand Publishers New Delhi 2002 109-265 Baldwin, Tammy Iraq and Afghanistan (Retrieved from http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/issues_IraqWar.html) Read More