E - Traditionally the Democrats are more liberal and support issues such as abortion and gay marriage, whereas the Republicans are more conservative and support low taxation.

P - Another way Americans can participate in politics is by joining an interest group.

E - An interest group is a group of people who come together to put pressure on businesses or representatives to achieve a common goal. This is often done by protesting.

E - For example the Black Lives Matter movement campaigned against racial injustice in crime following the death of George Floyd.

Overrepresentation

P - One group more likely to take part in politics in the US are males.

E - Politics is often seen as a male-dominated field and men have lots of role models in politics encouraging them to vote and run for election.

E - 76% of senators are male compared to only 50% of the population, and the president has always been male.

P - Another group more likely to take part in politics is white people.

E - Those with high education levels and income are more likely to participate in politics. Due to inequalities white people are more likely to succeed in both of these fields.

E - For example 70% of the House of Representatives are white.

Underrepresentation

P - One group less likely to take part in politics is females.

E - Politics is often viewed as a male dominated field and women have a lack of positive role models encouraging them to participate. There has never been a female president.

E - For example women make up around 51% of the population but only 24% of senators.

P - Another group less likely to take part in politics is Hispanics.

E - Traditionally US campaigning materials are run in English which prevents some Hispanic people from understanding them.

E - This barrier is reducing as some politicians are starting to make flyers and posters in Spanish as well as English.

Rights and responsibilities

P - One right Americans have is the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility is to only speak with respect.

E - Americans may say their opinions and criticise the government but must always tell the truth and be respectful.

E - For example they can have their own opinions but must not be racist or homophobic.

P - Another right Americans have is the right to bear arms and the responsibility is to only use a gun in self defence.

E - According to the 2nd Amendment all Americans are allowed to own a gun but they must only use it to defend themselves from harm.

E - There is an estimated 120 guns for every 100 people in the US.

Military power

P - One way the US military influences other countries is through their rank of #1 in the Global Firepower Index.

E - The US is said to have the most powerful military in the world and is therefore a threat. They also have the largest military budget in the world at $800 billion.

E - This means that they can afford expensive weapons such as nuclear weapons which can be used to threaten their enemies.

P - Another way the US military influences other countries is by taking part in global conflicts.

E - The US military can help to defend their allies, neutralise threats and sometimes prevent further attacks.

E - For example in 2024 the US defended Israel from Iranian missile attacks.

Political power

P - One way the US influences other countries politically is by being part of international bodies.

E - The US is part of international bodies like NATO and the UN where they help make decisions on things such as sanctions. Being in these bodies gives the US a ‘seat at the table’ and gives them the same input on decisions as countries like Russia and China.

E - For example the US is one of 5 permanent members of the UN security council.

P - Another way the US influences other countries politically is by tackling global issues.

E - The US is a powerful country which tries to inspire equal rights, fairness and freedom in other countries. By tackling issues such as inequality, environmental problems and poverty they make other countries want to tackle these issues too.

E - For example in 2024 Joe Biden attended Cop 27 to help tackle the issue of climate change. If powerful countries like the US were not involved, other countries would be less interested.

Economic power

P - One way the US influences other countries economically is through their multinational companies.

E - American companies like Starbucks and Walmart have stores open all around the world.

E - These companies bring profit back to the US. However Starbucks has been accused of not paying enough tax in the UK.

P - Another way the US influences other countries economically is through their GDP, which is the highest in the world.

E - The US has the world’s highest GDP which makes up about a quarter of the world’s GDP.

E - The US dollar is currently the most used currency in international transactions. For example, oil is sold in dollars per barrel.

Causes of economic inequality

P - African Americans are more likely to have lower income and one reason for this is lack of education.

E - African Americans are more likely to leave high school before graduation and more likely to be excluded. Staying in school increases the chances of job offers and the likelihood of getting a better paid job, therefore those who do not graduate high school are more likely to have lower income or live in poverty.

E - 26% of people who do not graduate high school in the US end up living in poverty.

P - Another reason why African Americans may have lower income is because of racial differences in criminal convictions.

E - African Americans are more likely to be punished harshly or treated unfairly in court. A criminal record severely reduces the chance of job offers or high-paying jobs, therefore many African Americans have lower incomes due to this.

E - According to the NAACP a criminal record reduces the chance of a job offer by nearly 50%. The negative impacts of a criminal record are felt twice as hard by African Americans.

Causes of social inequality

P - One social inequality in the US is differences in education levels due to funding.

E - In the US schools are partially funded by property taxes. Schools in poorer areas where many African Americans and Hispanics are therefore less funded and may not be able to afford the same resources as schools in richer areas where lots of white people live, meaning many white people have higher education levels than ethnic minorities.

E- For example, schools in Greenwich CT - a richer area where many white people live - spend an average of $6000 more than schools in Bridgeport CT - a poorer area where many ethnic minorities live - per year per pupil.

P - Another social inequality that exists is racial inequality in crime convictions.

E -

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