Eight Values

 Thursday, September 10, 2026

Eight Values- Check On Governmental Power

The Founding Fathers dividing powers between the States and Federal Government 

 The eight values of free expression: I believe are huge parts of what shapes our government now and have huge impacts our daily lives. 

    Government checking power, also called the watchdog role, is one of the only things keeping our society somewhat normal today. 

    Compared to all of the eight values of expression, I believe that checking on Governmental power is the value that resonates most with me because without it, there will be a constant push for more and more power within government. Which in turn, would lean us farther and farther away from the system of government we currently have, where the power belongs to the people.

    One of the most important parts that goes into the checking of government power is the freedom of the press.  The freedom of the press serves one of, if not the largest, parts in checking government power, as while many people often think of the press as simply reporting the news, the press serves a much greater purpose. The free press helps keep government officials accountable by exposing abuses of power and informing the public about what their leaders are doing. It is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to checking government power and is a necessity in maintaining how we are informed and make decisions based on the information. https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/vincent-blasi/ 

        

    

    History has also provided several examples of a watchdog-style role in action. Where the press and the public discover examples of the government trying to obtain more power. One of the most famous examples is the Watergate scandal during the 1970s. Where investigative journalists uncovered information about illegal activities connected to President Richard Nixon's administration. As more facts became public, citizens and governments were able to hold officials accountable. Watergate is one of the many cases that demonstrated how journalists can reveal abuses of power that might otherwise remain hidden from the public.https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/watergate

    Another example of this could be the Iran-Contra affair, and then you also have the various investigations that involved President Bill Clinton's administration, which only further illustrate the importance of a free press. In each case, journalists helped to inform the public about actions taken by government officials. This gave citizens the chance to make a infromed opoion on the situatuon rather if they agreed or disagreed with the conclusions, the information also allowed them to participate in a democratic government with much greater knowledge.

    The watchdog role is not just limited to major political scandals. Reporters can and do regularly investigate issues involving public spending, government transparency, law enforcement practices, and ethical conduct by elected officials. These investigations help ensure that government actions remain visible to the people who have the power and ultimately grant the government authority.

  

  To conclude, the checking function reminds us that freedom of the press is about more than protecting journalists. It is about protecting the public's ability to monitor government power. When the press is free to investigate and report, citizens are able to better equipped to recognize examples of wrongdoing and demand accountability. Due to this the press is able to serve as one of if not the most important elements of mantaing checks and balances that in turn helps to preserve democratic government. As a final point, I believe that the free press is valuable because it helps check the abuse of power by public officials and keeps citizens informed about the actions of those who govern them. https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/vincent-blasi/