Lecture #7 Government of the usa

The US Constitution

The early American life encouraged democracy. The colonists inhabited a land of forest and wilderness. They had to work together to build shelter, provide food and clear the land for farms and houses. This need for cooperation strengthened the belief that in the New world people should be equal and nobody would have any privileges. In 1776, the 13 weak British colonies came together and told that they would be free and independent states. A new republic was founded and the Declaration of Independence in the same year proclaimed that all men are created equal, that all have the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch – the Congress – is made up of elected representatives from each of the 50 states. It is the only branch of US government that can make federal laws and declare wars. The Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 senates, two from each state. Senators are elected to six-year terms. They represent the interests of the people in the state.

Executive Branch

The chief executive of the US is the president, who together with the vice-president is elected for a 4-year term. A president may be elected to only two terms. The president is elected directly by voters. In other words, the political party with the most Senators and Representatives does not choose the president. This means that the President can be from one party and the majority of those of those in the House of Representatives or senate from the other. This is not uncommon. As the chief formulator of the national policy, the president proposes legislation to Congress. The President may veto any bill passed by the Congress. The President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He has the right to appoint federal judges as vacancies occur, including judges of the Supreme Court. Presidents have relied quite a bit on their Cabinets for advice and some very little.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is the only court specifically created by the Constitution. In addition, Congress has established 13 federal courts of appeals and, below them, about 95 federal district courts. The Supreme Court meets in Washington, D.C., and the other federal courts are located in cities throughout the USA. Federal judges are appointed for life or until they retire voluntarily; they can be removed from office only via a laborious process of impeachment and trial in the Congress.

The federal courts hear cases arising out of the Constitution and federal laws and treaties, maritime cases, cases involving foreign citizens of government, and cases in which the federal government is itself a party.

The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and 8 associate justices. With minor exceptions, cases some to the Supreme Court on appeal from lower federal or state courts. Most of these cases involve disputes of the interpretation and constitutionality of actions taken by the executive branch and of laws passed by Congress or the states.

Political Parties and Elections

Today there are tow major political parties in the US, the Democratic and the Republican. The Democratic Party developed from the party of Thomas Jefferson, formed before 1800. The Republican Party was established in the1850s by Abraham Lincoln and others who opposed the expansion of slavery into new states. The Democratic Party is considered to be more liberal and the Republican the more conservative. Democrats believe that government has an obligation to provide social and economic programs for those who need them. Republicans are not against them, but believe they are too costly to taxpayers. Republicans pay much attention to encouraging private enterprise in the belief that a strong private sector makes citizens less dependent on government.

Both major parties have supporters among a wide variety of Americans. Americans do not have to join a political party to vote or to be a candidate for public office.

At the national level elections are held every two years, in even numbered years, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Americans are free to determine how much or how little they become involved in the political process. Many citizens actively participate by working as volunteers for a candidate. Others restrict their participation to voting on Election Day.

Anyone who is an American citizen, at least 18 years old, and is registered to vote may vote. Each state has the right to determine the registration procedures. Vote registration and voting among minorities has dramatically increased during the last 20 years, especially as a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

Political attitudes

It’s often been said and seems to be true: Americans seem to dislike government and politicians. They especially tend to dislike “those fool in Washington» who spend their tax money and are always trying to interfere in their private concerns. Many would agree with the statement that the best government is the one that governs least. Americans are seldom impressed by government officials. They distrust people who called themselves experts. They do not like to be ordered to do anything. They often portray corrupt politicians. Anyone who wants to be a president isn’t qualified. Americans simply don’t like authority.