One of the key factors in the success of our government over the past 250 years is the idea of separation. Certain parts of the government are required to be separate from other parts. And they are not to interfere with each other. "Do not cross the streams."
A powerful and important example of this is in the three major branches of our government: legislative, executive and judicial. Each are co-equal branches. Each performs its own function independently from the other. Most importantly, each serves as a check on the others. This is known as checks and balances; it is also referred to as the separation of powers. Each branch wields power, but each branch is also subject to scrutiny from the other branches. This helps ensure liberty.
You also find the concept of Separation in the existence of States. Some powers are abrogated to the federal government, other powers are abrogated to the states. Maintaining the right mix this is tricky, but the end result will be a government that cannot be directed or dominated by a single entity.
There's also separation between various branches of government and the data they control. This first became law under the Privacy Act of 1974, which mandated a code of fair information practice for federal agencies. Agencies must only collect data relevant and necessary to their functions. Individuals must be able to access and correct their records. Agencies must not share data across systems without consent or statutory exception. And each system of records must be publicly listed in the Federal Register. So Health information goes in one bucket, Social Security information goes in another bucket, medical records go into a third bucket, your legal history, education, and so on and so on. The main idea is that no person's information should all be in one place. This law was a direct response to growing concerns about government surveillance and centralized data banks, especially following scandals like Watergate and COINTELPRO. It was designed to prevent the federal government from creating a unified, all-knowing database of personal information.
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