4.6 - American Democracy

important points

1. The US did not have a President for the first ten years because they were so worried about having a king. This is based on a deep mistrust of government overreaching its authority

2. Division of power favours the state, NOT the federal government

3. The first three articles of the Constitution lays out how power will be divided amongst the three branches so no one can dominate. Virtually everything is clearly and constitutionally defined

4. Checks and balances are meant to keep any level from being too powerful

5. Elections are everything

6. Each group has limited power and authority.

name that part of gov’t (US edition)

those are the supreme and lower courts (make up judicial branch)

name that part of gov’t (US edition)

thats the executive branch, made up of the president (head of state and gov’t) and the cabinet

name that part of gov’t (US edition)

thats congress, the american version of our parliament. made up of the house of representatives, and the senate

name that part of gov’t (US edition)

thats the judicial branch, made up of the supreme and lower courts

name that part of gov’t (US edition)

thats the legislative branch, made up of congress (house of reps and senate)

name that part of gov’t (US edition)

thats the president (the head of state) and the cabinet, who make up the executive branch

congressional

act of the House of Representative and the Senate combined

partisanship

act of following party policy

• Bipartisan – two parties

• Non-partisan – joint efforts, not political

separation of powers

having distinct powers for the different branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) which act as a balance or control – to check the freedom of other groups

checks and balances

system designed to prevent any one group in government from controlling the state

veto

the ability to override a decision, the President can override a Congressional bill, and Congress can override that veto with a 2/3 vote

filibuster

deliberate delay of passage of bill through long speeches, etc. can talk about anything, just gotta hold the floor and keep talking

presidential democracy/republican democracy

• An elected official, usually the president, has the constitutional power

• President is the head of government, head of state

• He/she is not a part of the legislative body (House of Representatives), not responsible to it (like in Canada)

• He is elected separately  

• They can veto the actions of the House of Reps and/or Senate

• President does not need the support of the House to maintain power

• Two party system – essentially as it is extremely difficult for any other party to win

structure of government

• Single Member Constituencies (for House of Representatives) – One person from each riding is elected based on having received the most votes

• President (executive)

  • Elected every 4 years  - can only serve 2 terms in government

  • Holds power even if his political party does not have the majority of Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)

  • Belief that the president is not a servant to congress – not responsible to it

  • Can be impeached

  • Power to appoint Supreme Court Justices

checks and balances

House of Representatives(Legislative)

• The president recommends bills – do not have to be passed

• Usually control making, negotiating and passing their own bills into law

• Elected every 2 years can (with the senate) override the president’s veto if 2/3 of the vote is secured

Senate (legislative)

• Right to approve/reject the president’s appointments of judges to the Supreme Court, ambassadors to foreign states, and all cabinet ministers, 2/3 of the senate must approve all treaties with other countries

• 2 senators are elected from each state for 6 year term

more checks and balances

• If a law or executive order goes against the Constitution, the Supreme Court can rule it illegal (unconstitutional)

• The Constitution cannot be changed by the President.  That would require a ⅔ majority in Congress and ¾ of the state- obviously very difficult

• The President swears an oath to protect the Constitution

making laws

The legislative process in the US is INTENTIONALLY full of friction so that no one can have too much power:

• Only Congress can make laws

• Laws can be vetoed by the President, but the veto can be overridden by a ⅔ majority in Congress

• Congress controls spending

supreme courts

• Top of the court system

• Dual court system – federal courts for federal laws, state courts for state laws

• Ex.  Acts of terrorism – no matter where they occur are federal, murder etc. is a state law

  • Appointed by the president for life (senate approval)

whats the difference between parliamentary and congressional

parliamentary:

• Executive branch is held accountable to the legislative branch

• The head is almost always a member of the legislature

• Very strong party loyalty and discipline

congressional:

• Executive branch is separate from the legislative branch

• The head of government is NOT a member of congress

• Party discipline and loyalty are present, but much less important

both are part of legislative branch