The framework of the United States Constitution created a government in which the powers were intentionally divided into three branches of government: Legislature, Executive, and Judicial. It was thought that each branch would check the power of the other institutions. By separating the power, the framers wanted to improve the effectiveness of the government. Each of the three branches has its designated responsibilities. The executive branch is responsible for faithfully executing the law and the president is the head of the division. In the Constitution Article II Section I, it states, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” This is the oath taken by each U.S. President before he enters into office. In order to accomplish this constitutional charge, the president must be able to order agencies to take action on his authority.
In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower used his executive power to issue an executive order, Executive Order 10730, allowing him to enforce mandated federal court decisions. The Executive Order 10730 authorized the president to send the National Guard to assist in the desegregation of schools, specifically Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas (Pohlmann and Whisenhunt 157). This essay will discuss the importance of this document to the history of the nation. Why was its impact a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement? The very idea of desegregation would become forefront in the minds of the American people and stronger efforts began to end the “separate but equal” (157) status of all African Americans.
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...ericans. It conveyed the idea of integration into the hearts and minds of the next generation. Today, even after 64 years, racial prejudice and violence has not been completely removed from the school system or society. Schools still struggle with diversity, but at least now, minority students have a chance to have their individual rights protected. There is hope for the future.
Works Cited
"Brown v. Board of Education." pbs.org. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. .
"Desegregation of Central High School." The Encyclopedia of the Arkansas History and Culture. 02 Apr. 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
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Pohlmann, Marcus D. and Linda Vallar Whisenhunt. Student's Guide to Landmark Congressional Laws on Civil Rights. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002. Print.
September 17, 1787, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; during the heat of summer, in a stuffy assembly room of Independence Hall, a group of delegates gathered. After four months of closed-door quorums, a four page, hand written document was signed by thirty-nine attendees of the Constitutional Convention. This document, has come to be considered, by many, the framework to the greatest form of government every known; the Constitution of the United States. One of the first of its kind, the Constitution laid out the frame work for the government we know today. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people; constructed of three branches; each branch charged with their own responsibilities. Article one established the Congress or Legislative branch, which would be charged with legislative powers. Article two created the Executive branch, providing chief executive powers to a president, who would act in the capacity of Commander in Chief of the Country’s military forces. The President of the United States also acts as head of state to foreign nations and may establish treaties and foreign policies. Additionally, the President and the departments within the Executive branch were established as the arm of government that is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress. Thirdly, under Article three of the Constitution, the Judicial branch was established, and consequently afforded the duty of interpreting the laws, determining the constitutionality of the laws, and apply it to individual cases. The separation of powers is paramount to the system of checks and balances among the three branches; however, although separate they must support the functions of the others. Because of this, the Legislative an...
In the book Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, the author describes what her reactions and feelings are to the racial hatred and discrimination she and eight other African-American teenagers received in Little Rock, Arkansas during the desegregation period in 1957. She tells the story of the nine students from the time she turned sixteen years old and began keeping a diary until her final days at Central High School in Little Rock. The story begins by Melba talking about the anger, hatred, and sadness that is brought up upon her first return to Central High for a reunion with her eight other classmates. As she walks through the halls and rooms of the old school, she recalls the horrible acts of violence that were committed by the white students against her and her friends.
The farmers of our Constitution recognized the need for separate powers as well as checks and balances among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. This in turn helps to "provide for the common defense". Separation of powers prevents one branch from becoming excessively dominant over the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.: In order to accede to the preamble and adhere in its goals, the Constitution ensures this is by clearly stating the authority of the Congress in Article I Section 8 and the authority of the President in Article II Section 2. These fixed powers in the Constitution clearly state that one cannot act without permission or authorization of another. It is designed to that one cannot take action without consent of the other branch. This is prevalent in Article I Section 7 that states the process of how a law is passed. The fact that there are clear steps to the initiation of a law states the importance of separation of powers so that a single dominant branch does not arise.
The goal is to divide and individualize the powers to the three separate branches of Legislation, Execution and Judicial branches. Legislative powers belong to the Congress, which is formed by the Senate, and House of Representatives. Executive powers belong to the President and Vice President who will serve for 4 years. Judicial Powers are designated to the Supreme Court and and inferior courts that Congress establishes (Document B). The judges of both courts can hold their position as long as they have good behavior. All the powers of branches are unique and so no branch can suppress the other. This guards against
...aces, however, when they look at the same classroom about sixty years ago they will find it less diversified. Now, people can see African American children play with the children of white people. There are children who are of mixed race, when back then these children would be shunned by both sides. The children are able to play, become friends, and be happy. They are able to have a life where they do not have to worry about getting off the street just because a white person is passing by. They do not have to worry about moving to the back just because a white person has arrived. This would not have been the case sixty years ago. This place where children of all races are able to enjoy each other’s company was the result of many years of effort and blood, not only by one person but by many courageous individuals who wanted to create a better future for their people.
In 1954, the Supreme Court took a step in history with the Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka by stating that, “In the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’, has no place. Separate facilities are inheritably unequal.” Little Rock, Arkansas a city in the upper south became a location of a controversial attempt to put the court order into effect when nine African American students were chosen to desegregate Central High in Little Rock. How did the Little Rock Nine affect America? Sanford Wexler stated in The Civil Rights Movement: An Eyewitness History,” its “effect would ripple across the nation and influence the growing Civil Rights Movement;” in addition, the Little Rock crisis forced the federal government to come down on state government in order to protect the rights of African Americans.
On May 17, 1954, in the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, the High Court, for the first time in American legal history, challenged the “separate but equal” doctrine previously established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and outlawed racial segregation in public schools. The decision, igniting fierce debates throughout the country, was met with violence and strong defiance in the South. The years after Brown, however, saw the passing of several important Acts: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Today, Americans remember Brown v. Board of Education as a success in African Americans’ struggle for equal rights, a change of sea tide for the civil rights movement. While Brown deserves its place in American History Books, its direct product – desegregation – is not the ultimate solution to the education for African Americans. Desegregation only amends the system of education. America has to reassess the word “education,” for black Americans and other minority groups to achieve a real equal education.
In the United States Constitution, there is a specific system designed to prevent one of the three branches from gaining control or much power. This system is known as Checks and Balances. The system has been put on the effect due to many instances over the course of the year history. The designed system of Checks and Balances is very open yet complex. For example, if the President executive is not fulfilling his responsibilities as a leader or behaving inappropriately, the Legislative Branch Congress can limit him through the power of impeachment. The Judicial Branch can limit his power through the process of judicial review. This is when a justice can declare a law unconstitutional. The Congress can propose a bill to the President that they feel he is not in the best interests of the nation. These are fundamental of government under which different branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are formed to share power. The executive, the legislature, and the judiciary are the backbone of the government to carry out his duty and to fulfill the obligation of the nation interest.
The Executive Branch role is crucial operation of the executive branch is to assure that laws are carried out and enforced and aid the day to day responsibilities of the federal government to include “collecting taxes, safeguarding the homeland and representing the United States political and economic interests around the world” (Phaedra Trethan, 2013).
The main powers of the executive branch rest with the President of the United States of America. Powers granted to him by the constitution include serving as commander in chief of the armed forces; negotiating treaties; appointing federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet officials; and acting as head of state. The president also has a cabinet which includes officials such as the attorney general and the secretaries of State, Treasury, Defense, Interior, Agricu...
“The Supreme Court shut its eyes to all the facts, and in essence said—integration at any price, even if it means the destruction of our school system, our educational processes, and the risk of disorder and violence that could result in the loss of life—perhaps yours.”-Orval E. Faubus Governor of Arkansas. On May 17, 1954, the supreme court declared that law that establishing separate public schools for black and white student to be unconditional in the case Brown v. the Board Of Education. Schools all over the country started to integrate. But in Arkansas, Gov. Orval Faubus resisted the order of President Eisenhower to desegregate Central HIgh school in Little Rock. Eisenhower order integration to happen fast in Central. 9 African- american
The President of the United States is instrumental in the running of the country. He serves as the chief executive, chief diplomat, commander in chief, chief legislator, chief of state, judicial powers, and head of party. Article II of the Constitution states that the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. He also is tasked with the authority to appoint fifteen leaders of the executive departments which will be a part of the President’s cabinet. He or she is also responsible for speaking with the leaders the CIA and other agencies that are not part of his cabinet because these agencies play a key role in the protection of the US. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent
At the time of the African-American Civil Rights movement, segregation was abundant in all aspects of life. Separation, it seemed, was the new motto for all of America. But change was coming. In order to create a nation of true equality, segregation had to be eradicated throughout all of America. Although most people tend to think that it was only well-known, and popular figureheads such as Martin Luther King Junior or Rosa Parks, who were the sole launchers of the African-American Civil Rights movement, it is the rights and responsibilities involved in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision which have most greatly impacted the world we live in today, based upon how desegregation and busing plans have affected our public school systems and way of life, as well as the lives of countless African-Americans around America. The Brown v. Board of Education decision offered African-Americans a path away from common stereotypes and racism, by empowering many of the people of the United States to take action against conformity and discrimination throughout the movement.
The research done in 2005 revealed that the Black American students who studied at white dominated schools were very low than in any year since 1968 (Thomas 57).” According to Thomas (102), many factors contributed to rapid re-segregation of schools since 1991. The court turned against the desegregation plan adopted earlier by denying new petitions to desegregate schools, the executive arm reduced the initiatives to enforce the Civil Rights Act and Brown right that was so successful in the 1970s (Donnor and Dixson 2013).
1957 was a year of irony and progress. It started and ended on “Tuesday” and progressed from the common though that African Americans were not equal to white people to more equality between the two races. It was a difficult time of change of Americans as the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak in 1957. One of the main headlines that year was the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1954 the Supreme Court decided that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. As one of the first schools to integrate Central High School because known for the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine selected African American students that changed history and started to change the common thought of African Americans to a positive one. For the purpose of this paper I will discuss the positive effects of Central High School’s integration and the Little Rock Nine.