A discourse on the "separation of powers" and "checks and balances" branch of government - the

Media - that is not funded by taxpayers' dollars or provided government offices in the nations
capital like the other three branches of government, namely, the Congress, President and the
Supreme Court.
What is the media? In this discourse media is defined as mass communication or communicating
with and for the masses. This is done mainly by newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the
internet. A significant part of the "mass media" is what is commonly referred to as the "news
media."
What is the government? Abraham Lincoln described the nature of the government in the
Gettysburg Address in these words, "government of the people, by the people and for the
people." In a word government is law. Law is basic and may be sublime, especially when it is
based on natural law or derived from the Higher Law. Law is about relationships and the rights
of individuals...that one person's rights end where another person's rights begin.
The Federal Government preempts state rights, notwithstanding, the all too common rhetoric
about the pseudo sovereignty of state rights. However, the Federal Government permits states
rights when that seems to be politically expedient. It does not permit a state to declare war on a
foreign nation. The Federal Government reserves that right for herself. The Federal Government
is composed of three branches of government. They are mandated in the U. S. Constitution as
Congress which is authorized to make laws, the Supreme Court which is authorized to interpret
or declare the meaning of laws, and the President who is responsible for enforcing the laws.
These three branches of government are characterized by "separation of powers" and "checks
and balances" that are designed to prevent any branch of the government from abusing its
powers.
This writer does not intend to give a detail discussion of the government but rather to show that
the media is not less powerful than the three branches of government and the important role it
plays in a democratic society. The media is people communicating...with their government.
Oftentimes the media provides the people with information about their government and the
things that the government should be concerned about that otherwise would not be available to
them or their government. The media is a conduit for people to listen to and communicate with
their governmental officials, inform, praise and criticize them.
As indicated earlier, even though the media is not included in the U. S. Constitution as a branch
of the government, noticeably, the First Amendment to the Constitution states that "Congress
shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." This is to say the media is
free, no less than the people. "Who are the people if not their words?" Pause and think for a
moment about the things that would not be known, the abusers who would not be brought to
justice and the services that would not be provided for "we the people" if it were not for the
media.

While it is true sometimes the media, like the three branches of government, commit
unacceptable acts, and like the branches of government can be checked by them, it is vital for the
health of society. There are times when the media prevents the three branches of government
from operating singularly or in complicity to violate the U. S. Constitution and hence betray the
trust of the people they are sworn to represent.