The Republic of INTEGRAL
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- TNP Nation
- INTEGRAL
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- Integral#3810
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The Legislative Branch creates, amends and enacts laws (Pawilen & Pawilen, 2017). The Executive Branch according to Ramirez, has "the power to enforce and administer the laws" (as cited in Pawilen & Pawilen, 2017). Lastly, the Judicial Branch interprets the law (Pawilen & Pawilen, 2017).
Imagine a government without Separation of Powers. All power is concentrated on a single Political institution, a scenario which makes this political institution vulnerable to abusing the power vested upon it. The past century has seen many instances of these. From Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Their authoritarian rule of their respective states signifies that power is centralized on a single Political Institution which is the said political figures' office. No other political institution can provide dissent therefore, the absence of checks and balances which means instability.
Instability due to Power Centralization
Think of a spectrum. On the extreme left is a society with a government with a very decentralized distribution of power. In simplest terms, control of power is scattered among numerous institutions which means, an absence of a "Supreme" political institution or office (such as a President, a Monarch, or a Prime Minister) which is the most powerful institution therefore, also the absence of having the "final say", or the office who writes the signature which will enforce a government output like a proposed law. This is a chaotic situation.
In the middle of the spectrum, is a balanced government embodying the principle of the Separation of Powers theory. It is situated in the middle as it signifies balance, as simple as that.
However on the extreme right is a society with a government wherein power is centralized on a single political institution. Now how does this mean instability?
When all power is sucked in by that certain single political institution, power loses its presence on other institutions rendering them a weak and exposed nature. Meanwhile, that single institution absorbs all power available, which means its authority is unmatched, unquestionable and respected by the submissive other political institutions. And with the other political institutions submissive and without power, nothing can stop the single political institution that has all the power and authority in doing what it wants. There is an absence of restriction, prosecution and confinement of the uncontrollable force we call Power.
Diagram 1. The Spectrum explained in Instability due to Power Centralization
Power Restriction and Confinement and Absolute Power
Let us identify Power as a noun here. Power as I stated above is an uncontrollable force, therefore it must be restricted and confined to a certain degree to avoid its uncontrollable state. Usually, this is formally defined in a state's constitution and, enforced by a state, also by referring to its constitution. We see here the Separation of Powers theory at work and being applied. By "Separating" Power into branches of government, we avoid a single political institution handling Power as this will be dangerous in the long run because a single political institution cannot handle the uncontrollable force of Power. Most of the time, Absolute Power is displayed by this single political institution but as British Politician Lord Acton said "Absolute Power corrupts absolutely".
Integral Signed.
COPYRIGHT 2018
Introduction
Charles Louise de Secondat, Baron of Montesquieu formulated the Separation of Powers Theory wherein power in government is distributed among different branches of government in order to strengthen checks and balances that helps in avoiding corruption and other malpractices of power. The most popular branches of government used today by many states like The Philippines, United States of America, Indonesia and South Africa are the three: 1.) Executive Branch 2.) Legislative Branch and 3.) Judicial Branch or Judiciary.The Legislative Branch creates, amends and enacts laws (Pawilen & Pawilen, 2017). The Executive Branch according to Ramirez, has "the power to enforce and administer the laws" (as cited in Pawilen & Pawilen, 2017). Lastly, the Judicial Branch interprets the law (Pawilen & Pawilen, 2017).
Discussion
Governance without Separation of PowersImagine a government without Separation of Powers. All power is concentrated on a single Political institution, a scenario which makes this political institution vulnerable to abusing the power vested upon it. The past century has seen many instances of these. From Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Their authoritarian rule of their respective states signifies that power is centralized on a single Political Institution which is the said political figures' office. No other political institution can provide dissent therefore, the absence of checks and balances which means instability.
Instability due to Power Centralization
Think of a spectrum. On the extreme left is a society with a government with a very decentralized distribution of power. In simplest terms, control of power is scattered among numerous institutions which means, an absence of a "Supreme" political institution or office (such as a President, a Monarch, or a Prime Minister) which is the most powerful institution therefore, also the absence of having the "final say", or the office who writes the signature which will enforce a government output like a proposed law. This is a chaotic situation.
In the middle of the spectrum, is a balanced government embodying the principle of the Separation of Powers theory. It is situated in the middle as it signifies balance, as simple as that.
However on the extreme right is a society with a government wherein power is centralized on a single political institution. Now how does this mean instability?
When all power is sucked in by that certain single political institution, power loses its presence on other institutions rendering them a weak and exposed nature. Meanwhile, that single institution absorbs all power available, which means its authority is unmatched, unquestionable and respected by the submissive other political institutions. And with the other political institutions submissive and without power, nothing can stop the single political institution that has all the power and authority in doing what it wants. There is an absence of restriction, prosecution and confinement of the uncontrollable force we call Power.
Diagram 1. The Spectrum explained in Instability due to Power Centralization
Let us identify Power as a noun here. Power as I stated above is an uncontrollable force, therefore it must be restricted and confined to a certain degree to avoid its uncontrollable state. Usually, this is formally defined in a state's constitution and, enforced by a state, also by referring to its constitution. We see here the Separation of Powers theory at work and being applied. By "Separating" Power into branches of government, we avoid a single political institution handling Power as this will be dangerous in the long run because a single political institution cannot handle the uncontrollable force of Power. Most of the time, Absolute Power is displayed by this single political institution but as British Politician Lord Acton said "Absolute Power corrupts absolutely".
Conclusion
In this lecture, Charles Louise de Secondat, Baron of Montesquieu's Separation of Powers Theory is discussed. Again, Governance in a state without Separation of Powers is bound for instability, and instability is caused by a centralization of power in a single political institution which makes that institution unmatched, unquestionable and respected which means, it cannot be stopped in doing what it wants because there is no dissent. Therefore, restricting and confining Power, which can enter into an uncontrollable state, is an important aspect of government and governance.Integral Signed.
COPYRIGHT 2018
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