Changes

Historically, the State Department has been the most important agency in the Executive Branch, and the Secretary of State has been the most important [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] official.  Many of our [[President of the United States of America|president]]s first served as Secretary of State under an earlier [[President of the United States of America|president]].

Historically, the State Department has been the most important agency in the Executive Branch, and the Secretary of State has been the most important [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] official.  Many of our [[President of the United States of America|president]]s first served as Secretary of State under an earlier [[President of the United States of America|president]].

Thomas Jefferson first served as Secretary of State under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Washington.  James Madison served as Secretary of State under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Jefferson.  James Monroe served under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Madison.  John Quincy Adams did likewise under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Monroe.  And so on.

[[Thomas Jefferson]] first served as [[Secretary of State]] under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Washington.  [[James Madison]] served as Secretary of State under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Jefferson.  James Monroe served under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Madison.  John Quincy Adams did likewise under [[President of the United States of America|President]] Monroe.  And so on.

Who is Secretary of State today?  (Colin Powell).

Who is Secretary of State today?  ([[Condelezza Rice]]).

Dealing with foreign countries is a primary responsibility of the [[President of the United States of America|President]].  The Secretary of State advises him on this.  When conflicts arise, such as the war in Iraq, the Secretary of Defense advises the [[President of the United States of America|president]] on the military decisions.  Currently, the Secretary of Defense is Donald Rumsfeld.

Dealing with foreign countries is a primary responsibility of the [[President of the United States of America|President]].  The Secretary of State advises him on this.  When conflicts arise, such as the war in Iraq, the Secretary of Defense advises the [[President of the United States of America|president]] on the military decisions.  Currently, the Secretary of Defense is Donald Rumsfeld.

'''V. Department of Justice'''

'''V. Department of Justice'''

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its head, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its original head under the Bush Administration, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the [[federal]] [[government]].  Originally, the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecuted very few [[crime]]s.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the [[federal]] [[government]].  Originally, the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecuted very few [[crime]]s.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

Many are criticizing Attorney General Ashcroft for expanding [[federal]] [[power]] in investigating and prosecuting alleged terrorists.  After 9/11, the [[George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] sought and achieved new [[power]]s to target criminals under the Patriot Act.  While all are in favor of catching and prosecuting real terrorists, many oppose the loss of liberty in the War on Terrorism.  After all, some say, it is liberty that we are defending against terrorism in the first place.

Many are criticizing Attorney General Ashcroft for expanding [[federal]] [[power]] in investigating and prosecuting alleged terrorists.  After 9/11, the [[George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] sought and achieved new [[power]]s to target criminals under the Patriot Act.  While all are in favor of catching and prosecuting real terrorists, many oppose the loss of liberty in the War on Terrorism.  After all, some say, it is liberty that we are defending against terrorism in the first place.

The main dispute revolves around the Fourth Amendment.  The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for [[federal]] investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged terrorists.  No longer must a local judge issue a warrant based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged terrorists, broadly defined.  Also, [[federal]] investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched.  This is known as “sneak and peak.”  There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy.  On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to.  What do you think?

The main dispute revolves around the [[Fourth Amendment]].  The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for [[federal]] investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged terrorists.  No longer must a local judge issue a warrant based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged terrorists, broadly defined.  Also, [[federal]] investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched.  This is known as “sneak and peak.”  There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy.  On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to.  What do you think?