Us Political System

Vocabulary:

The constitution, the Supreme law, the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments)

The legislative, the executive, the judicial branches of power

The system of checks and balances

Legislature

Bicameral legislature, the House of Representatives/ the House/ the Lower chamber

The Senate/ the Upper House

division of power/ labour between the two houses

nonvoting members of Congress

term of office, to serve a two-year term, to resign, resignation

to hold office, to be removed from office, public officer, the White House officer

proposed legislation, a bill; to put a measure before the House, to pass a bill

enactment of the bill, to pass both houses

to brake/ delay/ table/ kilt a bill

to talk on the floor, to reach the floor (about s bill), to be on the floor

majority party, majority leader, floor leader, party caucus

tie vote, if the vote is likely to be close, roll call

to keep the record, Congressional record

with the consent of the Senate, a two-thirds majority vote

to initiate impeachment,

to levy taxes, to regulate interstate and foreign commerce

lobby, to lobby for a proposal, lobbyists

filibuster

The Executive

to vest power in smb., to vest smb. with power

the chief executive, Commander-in-chief of the US Aimed Forces

to appoint Supreme Court and federal judges, to approve the top civil and military officers,

to declare martial law, to grant pardons and reprieves

to issue executive orders, an executive agreement

negotiation and ratification of international treaties

to propose and veto legislation, a vetoed bill, to override a presidential veto

to face impeachment charges, Watergate affair

to start an impeachment trial, to acquit/ to pass a verdict of guilty

Vice-President

Secretary of State, the State Department

Secretary of Defense, the Defense department

Attorney General, the Department of Justice

President of the United States

President of the United States, chief executive officer of the federal government, leader of the executive branch, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president has the power to make treaties with other nations, with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate. The president also appoints, with Senate consent, diplomatic representatives, Supreme Court judges, and many other officials. The president and vice president are the only government officials in the United States elected by and representing the entire nation Although the president shares power with Congress and the judiciary, he or she is the most powerful and important officeholder in the country. The president has no vote in Congress but is the single largest source of legislative proposals that become law. As the principal foreign policy maker, the president of the United States has become the world's most important leader in international affairs. The Constitution of the United States specifies a four-year presidential term. It originally said nothing about how many terms a president could serve. But the precedent established by George Washington limited his successors to two terms Succession by a vice president after a president's death provided the opportunity to serve more than eight years without strictly violating the two-term rule.

The Constitution requires presidents to be natural-born citizens of the United States who are at least 35 years of age and have resided in the United States for 14 years.

In the more than two centuries since the presidency was established, the responsibilities and powers of the office have grown to a point where they almost exceed the capacity of any one individual to manage them. The Constitution requires the president to discharge the duties of the office and preserve,

protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. The president is also responsible

for the execution of the laws of the United States. In domestic affairs, this means anything

from implementing economic, social, and regulatory measures passed by Congress to

acting as commander in chief to quell disorder or suppress insurrection.

Presidents shape the country's judicial affairs by appointing federal judges. They influence

the country's domestic, economic, political, and social life by proposing legislation, calling

Congress into special session, and vetoing laws passed by Congress that they consider

destructive to the national well-being.

As commander in chief of the military, the president is also empowered to repel foreign

invasion and to fight ware overseas. In times of overwhelming public danger, the president

can declare martial law, when the courts are not open or cannot function freely.

The Constitution also gives the president the power to grant pardons and reprieves in

criminal cases. This power does not require congressional approval, but it cannot be used

in cases of impeachment.

The president proposes much of the legislation that Congress approves. The president's

power to veto (reject) legislation also serves as a strong influence on the legislative

process. Because it takes a two-thirds vote of both the House and tilts Senate to override a

presidential veto, Congress often modifies pending legislation to suit the president's

preferences. Aside from the role in proposing and vetoing laws, the president exercises

important legislative authority by issuing executive orders that have the force of law.