Changes

Remember that politics is a team sport, and the biggest teams are the political parties: Republicans and Democrats.  There are third parties too, such as the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and others.  But they seem to be losing strength as time goes by.

Remember that politics is a team sport, and the biggest teams are the political parties: Republicans and Democrats.  There are third parties too, such as the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and others.  But they seem to be losing strength as time goes by.

The Republican and Democratic Parties are controlled by a small group of people who meet in what was once called the "smoke-filled room," which in the old days was a few powerful people smoking cigars who made all the important political decisions within each political party.  Then the orders go out to everyone else in the party to obey, or else lose support from the party for reelection.  Today most people do not smoke, but the political parties still are controlled by very few people.

The Republican and Democratic Parties are controlled by a small group of people who meet in what was once called the "smoke-filled room," which in the old days consisted of a few powerful men smoking cigars as they made all the important political decisions within each political party.  Then the orders go out to everyone else in the party to obey, or else lose support from the party for reelection.  Today most people do not smoke, but the political parties still are controlled by very few people.

At the top of the party structure is its national committee.  For the Republicans, it is the Republican National Committee, which raises enormous sums of money and otherwise sets direction for the party.  Its Chairman, Reince Priebus, can be seen frequently on television news programs stating the views of the Republican Party.

At the top of the party structure is its national committee.  For the Republicans, it is the Republican National Committee, which raises enormous sums of money and otherwise sets direction for the party.  Its Chairman, Reince Priebus, can be seen frequently on television news programs stating the views of the Republican Party.

Judges, courts and trials are not what most people think about when they hear the term "government", but courts and public trials may be as important in deciding the future of our nation.  Elected politicians like to avoid the difficult issues, leaving it to courts to decide what really matters.

Judges, courts and trials are not what most people think about when they hear the term "government", but courts and public trials may be as important in deciding the future of our nation.  Elected politicians like to avoid the difficult issues, leaving it to courts to decide what really matters.

The most important trials in Anglo-American history have been by juries, and they have decided many of the fundamental issues that we take for granted. In trials, there are rules of evidence that limit what can be said or claimed.  Most of what politicians says, and much of what is taught in public school, would not be considered reliable enough to present in a court of law at a trial.  Demagoguery is not allowed; neither is most types of "hearsay", which is repeating what someone heard somewhere else.  The basic rules of evidence have developed over hundreds of years to promote a truthful result.   

The most important trials in Anglo-American history have been by juries, and they have decided many of the fundamental issues that we take for granted. In trials, there are rules of evidence that limit what can be said or claimed.  Most of what politicians says, and much of what is taught in public school, would not be considered reliable enough to present in a court of law at a trial.  Demagoguery is not allowed; neither are most types of "hearsay", which is repeating what someone heard somewhere else.  The basic rules of evidence have developed over hundreds of years to promote a truthful result.   

The Salem Witch Trials, which are not on this list (but perhaps they should be), reached results considered to be unjust because witnesses were allowed to say in court that they had a dream or vision ("spectral evidence") convincing them that the defendant was guilty.  Today that would be prohibited by rules of evidence.

The Salem Witch Trials, which are not on this list (but perhaps they should be), reached results considered to be unjust because witnesses were allowed to say in court that they had a dream or vision ("spectral evidence") convincing them that the defendant was guilty.  Today that would be prohibited by rules of evidence.

<br>10.  President Bill Clinton (1999)

<br>10.  President Bill Clinton (1999)

How many of those jury trials can you describe?  For the impeachment trials (3, 4, and 10), the "jury" was the entire U.S. Senate.

How many of these jury trials can you describe?  For the impeachment trials (3, 4, and 10), the "jury" was the entire U.S. Senate.

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams felt strongly that jury trials were the best defense against government.  Thomas Jefferson considered “trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.”  John Adams said it was a jury’s “duty ... to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.”

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams felt strongly that jury trials were the best defense against government.  Thomas Jefferson considered “trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.”  John Adams said it was a jury’s “duty ... to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.”