Separation of Powers: FBI vs. Supreme Court
"'Today's opinion underscores the fact that the Department of Justice is required to follow the law, and that it is bound to abide by the Constitution,' defense attorney Robert Trout, said, promising more legal challenges to 'overreaching by the government in this case.'"
The case is that against U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, who has been accused of accepting $100,000 as a bribe from a telecommunications businessman. But the issue the Supreme Court dealt with was whether or not the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is part of the Department of Justice, violated the constitutional separation of the executive and legislative branch in the way it seized and examined legislative records.
The separation of power among the executive branch (president and vice president), legislative (House of Representatives and Senate) and the judicial branch (headed by the U. S. Supreme Court) is a fundamental part of the Constitution of the United States of America. The system was designed to prevent one group or person from taking control of the country.
Ironically, the FBI's actions were condemned by both liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, and supported by both liberals and conservatives.
To read the article by AP reporter Matt Apuzzo, go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070803/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/raid_on_congress
Comments
The FBI is part of the executive branch. The president is the man God wanted in office. He is God's man, and the FBI is God's agency. The Communist Supreme Court has no business challenging that! The court should be run by priests and pastors with One Court Under God, as it was my Moses. Read your Bible!
Posted by: Greg for Christ | August 3, 2007 08:22 PM
I am a Christian and I resent what you imply. I did read my Bible. Jesus saved us from the law. He also said "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's." Don't let politicians run your religion, especially not George W. Bush!
Posted by: Mabel "Christlover" Andrews | August 4, 2007 06:24 PM
The Founders knew what they were doing! If the FBI spies on lawmakers then lawmakers will be afraid to legislate to control the FBI. It goes on from there. George W. Bush even said America would be better with a dictator as long as he was the dictator. Don't let America become a dictatorship!
Posted by: Heather Wyne | August 8, 2007 06:41 PM
God or Goddess doesn't tell us who to vote for! If you believe in freedom that means you believe we aren't controlled.
If the federal government controls everything even the courts that we're in serious trouble! I'm glad the court made the decision they did.
Posted by: Lorien Loveshade | August 10, 2007 01:49 AM
It's the same old battle for power. Congress wants control of the president, the president wants control of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court wants control of the congress.
If you'll benefit by having your bought and paid for congressman or woman keep more power, you're in favor of the court's decision. If you're afraid of bad guys taking over and think the police will protect you, you're against the court's vote. It's all self interest.
Posted by: Andrew Millerman | August 14, 2007 04:02 AM
The Supreme Court needs to get out of everybody's business! We have the right to know what our own government is doing! Don't you want to know?
Posted by: Alice Palace | August 14, 2007 09:01 PM
We have the right to know what our government is doing. But if one branch of the government gets all the power we'll lose all our rights! That's why we have three branches. It's to keep the power balanced so nobody can take over total control.
Posted by: Lorien Loveshade | August 18, 2007 04:35 PM
The government is a front. Politicians are bought by Big Business, and Big Business is ran by Who Knows Who?
"The Truth is Out There."
Posted by: Big Al | September 18, 2007 01:28 AM