The USA, political system

The Constitution

• Adopted on September 17, 1787

• Amended 27 times

• 7 articles

What is the Bill of Rights

• 1791

• First 10 amendments

• Rights of the citizens

Define the meaning of confederation in terms of authority and power

▪ A form of political organization of component states, which works according to a constitution defining the relation of the component states

▪ to the central government

▪ to one another

What is Representative Democracy

The Constitution defines

▪ The power of the nation and the state government

▪ The rights of the citizens

▪ Protect democracy

▪ Separate the power:

▪ Federal – state

▪ Executive,- legislative,- judicial branch

What is Federalism

Divides authority between the

▪ Central government and the individual states

▪ Separation of power into three branches (executive, legislative, judicial)

The legislative branch

Congress

Senate - 100, 2 from each state, 6 years, vice president is the head

House of Representatives - 435 members, the bigger state the more members. Elected for 2 years, Speaker of the House

The executive branch

• President - Elected for 4 years, Approves laws, Appoints or removes the members of the Cabinet

▪ Vice President

▪ Cabinet ( Secretaries of State, each with a Department of State, The President, Meets regularly to discuss important matters)

The judicial Branch

• Supreme Court (Decides whether a law is constitutional or not, Its decisions cannot be overruled, 9 justices (or judges), 8 associate justices, 1 chief justice, Appointed by the President, No term limit)

▪ Courts of Appeal (Appeals from district courts)

▪ District Courts (Civil and criminal cases)

What is the system of Checks and balances

• To prevent abuse of power

• Each branch can limit the power of others

• The branches ‘check’ each other’s power

• So no branch will become too powerful and the power remains balanced

State level

• All governmental powers not granted for the federal government are reserved for the states

• States are free to organize their executive agencies the way they like

Presidential elections

• Candidates announce campaigns (usually 1–2 years before the election)

• Primary elections and caucuses are held in each state to choose party nominees

• Political parties hold national conventions to officially nominate their presidential and vice-presidential candidates

• General election campaign takes place (debates, rallies, advertising)

• Election Day occurs on the first Tuesday in November

• Voters technically vote for electors, not directly for the president

• Electoral College: each state’s electors vote based on the state’s popular vote

• A candidate needs 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win

• Congress certifies the results in January

• Inauguration Day is January 20, when the new president takes office

Pros of electoral college system

• Balances power between states by giving smaller states more influence through the Electoral College

• Encourages nationwide campaigning, not just in large cities

• Provides a clear winner in most elections

• Protects federalism, reflecting the states’ role in government

Cons of electoral college system

• Candidate can win without the popular vote, which many see as undemocratic

• Swing states have disproportionate influence

• Votes are not equal across states due to the Electoral College

• Discourages voter turnout in states dominated by one party