Quotes About Government

Neither the wording of the amendment itself nor common practice challenged the widely held belief that government guaranteed freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

The political scientist Robert A. Dahl observed more than a half century ago that the Supreme Court "is an essential part of the political leadership," part of the "dominant political alliance.

courts may exercise jurisdiction: cases between states; cases between a state and citizens of another state, or between citizens of different states; "controversies to which the United States shall be a party"; admiralty and maritime disputes; cases involving ambassadors and other foreign diplomats; and cases between a state or its citizens and the government or residents of a foreign state.

To the extent that it conveys the image of the three branches of the federal government, each operating in its own sphere, the phrase "separation of powers" is misleading. A more accurate image is one of dynamic interaction, in which the Supreme Court is an active participant.

And yet, over time, the Court and the public seem to maintain a certain equilibrium. Public opinion polls regularly reflect that "diffuse" approval for the Supreme Court—that is, approval of the institution in general, rather than of particular actions—is higher than for other institutions of government.

Congress responded promptly by passing a statute, provocatively titled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The new law provided that a statute that appeared neutral on its face could not be applied in a way that placed a burden on the practice of religion unless the government could show that the burden served a "compelling interest.

perhaps the public expression of trust in the Supreme Court reflects a leap of faith rather than actual knowledge; people want to believe in some governmental institution, and they are more likely to be able to identify what they don't like about the political branches. Or

She didn't forgive him, not then. Not really until years later when she realized how men were so influenced by their peers and governments. This was something Ruth, a woman who could stand alone in the world, would never understand.

Jeremy Bentham argued that 'even in the best of times the great mass of citizens will most probably possess few resources other than their daily labour and, consequently, be always near indigence'. As long as working man was near indigence, hunger would remain an effective tool to goad him to labour. Bentham argued that an important task of government was to ensure conditions of deprivation, thereby guaranteeing that hunger would [be a constant motivation to work].

Emperors may come and go, bringing more or less chaos, but the bureaucrats keep the wheels turning.

The intelligence community gets hurt through sequestration.

Everything people do that doesn't work has to be somebody else's fault. Next time you know, geezers'll be suing the government for getting old and kids'll be taking their mommies to court because they came out ugly.

La tarea de fijar los impuestos implica calcular cuánto pueden robar dejándonos a nosotros, los pobres infelices, lo suficiente para que sigamos trabajando, así el año que viene tendrán más para robar. El gobierno cultiva ciudadanos como si fueran verduras, y hay que dejar un puñado de semillas para la próxima siembra.

The right to boss pregnant women around was surely on its way into the Constitution

It is astonishing that, under the circumstances, marriage is still legally allowed. If nearly half of anything else ended so disastrously, the government would surely ban it immediately. If half the tacos served in restaurants caused dysentery, if half the people learning karate broke their palms, if only 6 percent of people who went on roller coaster rides damaged their middle ears, the public would be clamoring for action. Yet the most intimate of disasters . . . happens over and over again.

A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its relation to government. That is, one could shade down from an actual ruling or governing class to a class hopelessly out of relation to government, thinking of government as beyond its control, of itself as wholly controlled by government. Somewhere in between and In gradations is the group that has the sense that gov't exists for it, and shapes its consciousness accordingly.

It is perfectly true that that government is best which governs least. It is equally true that that government is best which provides most.

Oh, for the love of God. There is no agent more agent than you. I swear you have pin-striped ties encrypted into your DNA. When you die, the coffin is going to read Property of the FBI.

Spain and the United States share the same values of democracy, liberty and fundamental freedoms.

A budget should reflect the values and priorities of our nation and its people.

We must guard against the overreaching hand of big government trying to take away our freedom. And we must always protect the environment in a manner consistent with our values.

I'm a product of the Kennedy era. Kennedy's Inaugural plus the accident of Dean Rusk brought me into the government. Those were my values.

If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it, I become singled out, even though what I'm saying is common sense. It's very essential values that we all have to protect. But in Chinese society, people are giving up on protecting these values.

Congressional overseers and the public must be given appropriate insight into government activities as well as their legal rationale to ensure America's values are being upheld and our interests advanced.