Does the Federal Government Need an Independent Counsel?

By: Kenneth R Tapscott

Does the Federal Government Need an Independent Counsel?

Based on the origins of the independent counsel I do believe there is a place for it in the Federal Government. The counsel was formed in 1978 from the Watergate scandal, which was an incident that resulted in which several top Justice Department officials resigning. President Nixon also resigned from the incident. During the scandal people believed that upper administration was covering up criminal activity. Based off this perception I believe it is important that the independent council was formed to give the America people some assurance that matters of this nature would be looked into and proper action would be taken. Many believed that the federal government would not fairly and accurately investigation matters pertaining to high ranking government official. The independent council should be supervised and monitored to prevent the council from gaining more power and authority then should be held in that position. It’s not that I think the federal government cannot be trusted or that they will pursue investigations of their peers. I do believe that having an independent council acts like a check and balances of sorts. I see not reason what it could not be allowed, although I do understand that controversy which have arisen in having an independent council in place.

References

David W. Neubauer. America’s Courts and the Criminal Justice System

Copyright 2002 Wadsworth/Thomson

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