In Trump's America, it is now a no hold battle between Executive and Judiciary

U.S. citizens are getting reconciled to a life of stress, strain and uncertainties

- BY T N ASHOK

A never-ending dispute is on. Who is most powerful among the five pillars of democracy? The government, the executive, the judiciary, the legislature and the media. We can bunch the government and the executive in one group. The other three branches are important as the government.

Who should have greater powers or should it be equally divided. First of all let’s understand the functions of the various branches. People elect their representatives to the Congress in the house and the senate. They in turn legislate on topics concerning the people.

When there is a dispute over what the legislator's choice of bills, the judiciary intervenes on appeal from institutions and the people to interpret the law and decide what is right or wrong. So, there is a balance of power. And the media with its critique and analysis and surveys brings to the notice of the government how popular or unpopular the measures are.

In recent times the lines have got blurred between the powers of the branches under the constitution. The government has been accused of having a heft in making its own decisions it thinks right, the judiciary has been accused of exercising extra judicial powers, and the media has been accused of trial by the media even before courts can decide on the matter, media excesses have transgressed into judicial authority, making it difficult for people to accept judgments which are based on hard facts and reality and not on emotions.

Both the Trump and the earlier Biden administration have been accused of being too strong or too weak in representing what they claimed to be in public interest. Both presidents adopted their own methods in implementing policies.