The Fourth Branch of Government
UNIT 3 ESSAY: THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
Norma Rogers
January 4, 2011
Kaplan University
Dr. Warren
PA165-01
The Fourth Branch of Government
It has been taught since elementary school that the United States government consists of three branches, including the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. However, in those early days, there were no lessons on the influential fourth branch of government that operates alongside the other three and plays a central and increasingly active role in the system of checks and balances that was apparently designed to keep any one group from getting too much power. This essay defines the fourth branch of government and discusses its implications and increased powers, as well as the substantial affects it has on every person’s daily life. According to Vago (2009), the fourth branch of government is defined as administrative agencies with legislative authority to conduct investigations, make rules, and legally as well as officially make decisions about problems or disputes. For example, per the Free Dictionary.com, the Social Security Administration promulgates regulations concerning the provision of income for totally disabled people and also decides who is or is not disabled. Additionally, for instance, if an employee is discriminated against on the basis of his or her race, color, religious origin, and/or sexual orientation, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (USEEOC) is an administrative agency that, pursuant to its website, is authorized to investigate such charges of discrimination against employers who are covered by the law, make a finding, and then may file a lawsuit to protect the rights of individuals and the interests of the public. However, according to Bovard (1997), “[f]ederal bureaucracies place increasingly absurd burdens on businesses”. Further, according to the webpage article on lawjrank.org entitled “Administrative Agency” etc., the
Norma Rogers
January 4, 2011
Kaplan University
Dr. Warren
PA165-01
The Fourth Branch of Government
It has been taught since elementary school that the United States government consists of three branches, including the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. However, in those early days, there were no lessons on the influential fourth branch of government that operates alongside the other three and plays a central and increasingly active role in the system of checks and balances that was apparently designed to keep any one group from getting too much power. This essay defines the fourth branch of government and discusses its implications and increased powers, as well as the substantial affects it has on every person’s daily life. According to Vago (2009), the fourth branch of government is defined as administrative agencies with legislative authority to conduct investigations, make rules, and legally as well as officially make decisions about problems or disputes. For example, per the Free Dictionary.com, the Social Security Administration promulgates regulations concerning the provision of income for totally disabled people and also decides who is or is not disabled. Additionally, for instance, if an employee is discriminated against on the basis of his or her race, color, religious origin, and/or sexual orientation, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (USEEOC) is an administrative agency that, pursuant to its website, is authorized to investigate such charges of discrimination against employers who are covered by the law, make a finding, and then may file a lawsuit to protect the rights of individuals and the interests of the public. However, according to Bovard (1997), “[f]ederal bureaucracies place increasingly absurd burdens on businesses”. Further, according to the webpage article on lawjrank.org entitled “Administrative Agency” etc., the
References: Rothkopf, D. (2010). Defaulting to the fourth branch of government. Retrieved from http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/12/15/defaulting_to_the_fourth_branch_of_government Vago, S. (2009). Law and Society 9th Ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall