We all know the three branches of government are executive, legislative, and judicial. They all watch each other with the checks and balances system. But isn't there a fourth branch: the people? They check and balance the other branches, and are checked and balanced by the branches, right? Although I don't think we check all the branches and there might be something else that's different, but it's close, no? We help balance and they check us so we won't destroy ourselves or destroy the country, etc. Would you consider it a semi-branch maybe? Do you see a government as something that looks over the people or do you see it more like this where the government is actually the entire nation which includes the citizens as one of the parts? Is the government working for the citizens or are the citizens here to form part of the system which, as a means for a stable structure, is equally important to the other three branches?

The press is usually considered the Fourth Estate, the fourth branch of government. Without a free press, all the citizenry has is the government's word, and for over one hundred years, we have seen that the government lies to protect itself.

"The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure." - Thomas Jefferson

Ah, that's true. Never thought of that. That branch has gotten incredibly strong over the last few decades.

Stricly speaking, the citizenry is not a branch, but rather, the root of government.

Alan Moore