- •Introduction to Country Studies & Culture-oriented Linguistics
- •The main aims:
- •Geography of the usa
- •General characteristics
- •The relief of the country
- •The Grand Canyon from Moran Point
- •Cultural Regions of the usa
- •Climate
- •Extreme points
- •American society:
- •Diversity
- •Religious diversity
- •Immigration as the major source of diversity
- •Restrictions on immigration
- •Racism as another source of diversity
- •The political system of the usa
- •Introduction to the political system of the usa
- •The usa Constitution
- •Legislative branch
- •General Characteristics
- •General Characteristics
- •Climate
Legislative branch
The USA congress is a bicameral legislature
The house of representatives has 435 members, each representing for a two-year term
House seats the apportioned among the states according to the population
Each state has 2 senators, elected at large to six-year terms; one third of senate seats are up for election every second year
The senate must give “advice & consent” to many important president appointments
The house of representatives introduces bill
Lecture 4 10.05.11
Responsibilities of a Congressperson
Each individual congressperson must assume three roles:
Legislator
Committee member
Representative of their constituents
Powers of Congress:
To collect taxes in order to pay debts, provide for common defence and general welfare of the US
To borrow money on the credit of the US
To regulate commerce with other nations and between the states
To coin money and regulate its value
Provide for punishment of counterfeiting
Establish post offices and roads
Promote progress of science
Create courts inferior to the Supreme Court
Define and punish piracies and felonies
Declare war
Raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, make rules for the regulation of land and naval forces
Provide for the militia, arm and discipline the militia
Exercise exclusive legislation in Washington D.C
Make laws necessary to execute the powers of Congress
The executive branch consists of the President of the US and his delegates
The president is the head of state and head of government, the commander-in-chief of the military, the chief diplomat
The president, according to the Constitution, must “take care that laws be faithfully executed”.
The president has important legislative and judicial powers
He may issue executive orders to affect internal policies
The president may sign or veto legislation passed by Congress
He may be impeached by a majority in the House and removed from office by a two-thirds majority in the Senate for “treason, bribery, or other crime and misdemeanors”
The President has the power to pardon criminals convicted of federal offences, and (with the consent of the Senate) appoint Supreme Court justices and federal judges
The Vice President of the US is the second-highest executive official of the government
As first in the presidential line of succession, the Vice President becomes the new President of the United States upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President, which has happened nine times
His only other constitutional duty is to serve as the President of the Senate, but over the years the office has evolved into a senior advisor to the President. – Joseph Biden
Cabinet, executive departmentsd, and agencies
The enforcement and administration of federal laws is in the hands of federal executive departments, created by Congress to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs.
The heads of the 15 departments, chosen by the President and approved by the US Senate, form a council of advisors generally known as the President’s Cabinetthe executive office of the President:
The White House Staff
The national Security Council
The Office of management and Budget
The council of Economic Advisers
The Office of the US Trade Representative
The Office of National Drug control policy and the office of Science and Technology Policy
The are also a number of independent agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The Central Intelligence Agency and Environmental Protection Agency
Judicial branch
The highest is the Suoreme Court of the US, which consists of nine justices
The court deals with matters pertaining to the Federal Government, disputes between states, and interpretation of the US Constitution, and can declare legislation or executive action made at any level of the government as unconstitutional
Below the Supreme Court are the courts of appeals and below them are the district courts
The supreme court of each state is the final authority on thhe interpretation of that state’s laws and constitution
Foreign relations
Almost all countries have embassies in Washington, and consulates around the country
Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Sudan – do not have formal diplomatic relations with US
US is a founding member of the UN
Principal allies – Australia, Japan, Israel and the NATO states + United Kingdom
Diplomatic, economic and cultural ties with Canada and Mexico
28000 people in 27 countries believe that US has mainly a negative influence in the worlds
Alexander Hamilton
Federalists and Antifederalists
February 4, 1789 – George Washington – the first President
Set of rules, law regulations – practical norms, regulating the work of the government
“Private property is the backbone of liberty” – James Madison, plantation owner, father of C
Preamble and seven articles, 27 amendments to the original text
The first 10 – “The Bill of Rights” – 1791 – individual rights and freedoms (speech, press, worship)
The 21st amendment limited the President’s ruling by maximum two terms
Economy of the USA