Miscellaneous

The Least of the Most

By Anne Skove, Esq.

No wonder few people get our least dangerous blog subtitle: only 21% of randomly sampled adults in this country are even aware that there are three branches of government. Ranking them in terms of dangerousness is probably way beyond them.

This is according to a recent NCSC/Princeton Survey Research Associates International study, Separate Branches, Shared Responsibilities.

While people in the U.S. may not know who governs them or how, they do know what they want! To wit:

• Interbranch co-operation: Most people want the three branches (whatever they may be) to work together.


• No cuts: The public opposes budget cuts that would effectively suspend jury trials, reduce the number of judges, or otherwise subtracting from the court's core functions. Additionally, the public supports increasing court fees and reducing court hours only as a last resort.


• Independence: Recognizing the value of an independent judiciary, not political party affiliation, is the bigger factor impacting people's attitudes about the way the courts make decisions.


• Knowledge is confidence: Those best informed about their state government have the most positive views of the courts.

OK, now for the answer about our subtitle: Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist Paper #78 called the judiciary the least dangerous branch.

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on May 15, 2009 (boomark / email).