by Shane Riley

Created on: January 03, 2009

The Fourth Branch of Government

Some would say that the media is actually an unofficial branch of the modern U.S. Government, but I do not agree that the press is the fourth branch of government. I do, however, agree that the press has great influence over the American people, but the press has no official or working control in our system of government. Although the press does influence the American people, the press does not have any type of governmental power. The press holds the government accountable to the people through its ability of mass communication, but the press does not have the ability to make any type of government policy. The press is an important entity that operates parallel to the government, and the press can prove useful to the government, but there is no elected or delegated power to the press by the people.

The founding fathers must have known that the press was an important asset that could help to keep government in check because they allowed for the protection and freedom of the press in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. The founding fathers must have also known that the press could help to "get the word out" to the people and inform them of what the government was doing or what the government was about to do. This would help to make sure that the people were made aware of the government's actions and inactions so the people could get involved and control the government that they elected to manage the affairs of the country and of the people.

The media participated in the American political system because it sets the people's agenda and identifies public problems that the government needs to address. Some say that the real power of the media is to decide what needs to be decided. The media also offers citizens a way to participate and observe public debate.

The media helps to form the way that the American people look at the process of new elections. In modern times, there is almost twenty-four hours of news, government, and election coverage that covers everything about the government's actions and inactions, and everything about everyone who is in the current election "spotlight." For most people, the media is how they get their information on the government and the candidates running for office. The media helps us to form our opinions of the government and candidates running for office. The media also helps us to decide whom we may decide to elect to government office. Most people get their

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