ThePoliticalSystemintheUnitedStatesArticlesofConfederation联邦条款WhentheWarofIndependencewasover,eachnewstatehaditsowngovernmentandwasorganizedlikeanindependenetnation.However,thesestateswouldraisemoneytopayoffdebtsofthewar,establishamoneysystemanddealwithforeignnationsinmakingtreaties.TheagreementthatsetthisplanofcooperationwascalledtheArticlesofConfederationTheArticlesofConfederationfailedBecausethestatesdidnotcooperateTheCongressatthetimehadbeengivennoauthoritytoforceanystatetodoanything.InMayof1787ConstitutionalConventionbeganInPhiladelphiaGeorgeWashington,themilitaryherooftheWarofIndependencebeingthepresidingofficer.12statesexceptRhodeIslandAwrittenconstitutionisaformaldocumentdefiningthenatureoftheconstitutionalsettlement,therulesthatgovernthepoliticalsystemandtherightsofcitizensandgovernmentsinacodified编成法典form.ThemaincontentsofConstitutionAPreambleMakesitclearthatthegovernmentissetupby“We,thePeople”Itspurposeisto“promotethegeneralwelfareandsecuretheblessingoflibertytoourselvesandourposterity.”We,thepeopleoftheUnitedStates,inordertoformamoreperfectUnion,establishjustice,insuredomestictranquility,provideforthecommondefense,promotethegeneralwelfare,andsecuretheblessingsoflibertytoourselvesandourposterity,doordainandestablishthisConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica.我们合众国人民,为建立更完善的联盟,树立正义,保障国内安宁,提供共同防务,促进公共福利,并使我们自己和后代得享自由的幸福,特为美利坚合众国制定本宪法。“BillofRights”In1791addedtotheConstitutionWithoutguaranteeingthefreedomorthebasicrightsandprivilegesofcitizensTwofearsinwritingtheconstitutionOnefear:onepersonorgroupmightbecometoopowerful.Agovernmentconsistingofthreeparts,orbranches,theexecutive,thelegislativeandthejudicialwassetup.Anotherfearthenewcentralgovernmentmightweakenortakeawaythepowerofstategovernments.TheConstitutionspecifiedexactlywhatpowerthecentralgovernmenthadandwhichpowerwasreservedforthestates.TheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesItisoneinwhichpowerissharedbetweenacentralauthorityanditsconstituentpartswithsomerightsreservedtoeachSeperationofthreepowers:legislative,executiveandjudicial;democraticpoliticsAfederalsystemofgovernmentisonethatdividesthepowersofgovernmentbetweenthenational(federal)governmentandstateandlocalgovernments.TheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesestablishedthefederalsystem,alsoknownasfederalism.Underfederalism,eachlevelofgovernmenthassovereigntyinsomeareasandsharespowersinotherareas.Share:makeandenforcelaws;levytax;borrowmoneyNationalgovernmentCoinmoneyDeclarewarConductforeignrelationsOverseeforeignandinterstatetradeStategovernmentRatifyamendmentsManagepublichealthandsafetyOverseetradewithinthestateEducationTheconstitutiondoesnotclearlylistthepowersofthestates.Instead,itsaysthatallpowersnotspecificallygrantedtothenationalgovernmentarereservedtothestates.SeparationofpowerLegislative–exercisedbytheCongressExecutive--headedbythepresidentJudicial–executedbytheSupremeCourt“ThreePowers”LegislativeBranchTheHouseofRepresentativesismadeupof435electedmembers,dividedamongthe50statesinproportiontotheirtotalpopulation.Inaddition,thereare6non-votingmembers,representingtheDistrictofColumbia,theCommonwealthofPuertoRico,andfourotherterritoriesoftheUnitedStates.ThepresidingofficerofthechamberistheSpeakeroftheHouse,electedbytheRepresentatives.HeorsheisthirdinthelineofsuccessiontothePresidency.MembersoftheHouseareelectedeverytwoyearsandmustbe25yearsofage,aU.S.citizenforatleastsevenyears,andaresidentofthestate(butnotnecessarilythedistrict)theyrepresent.TheSenateiscomposedof100Senators,2foreachstate.Untiltheratificationofthe17thAmendmentin1913,Senatorswerechosenbystatelegislatures,notbypopularvote.Sincethen,theyhavebeenelectedtosix-yeartermsbythepeopleofeachstate.Senator'stermsarestaggered交错sothataboutone-thirdoftheSenateisupforreelectioneverytwoyears.Senatorsmustbe30yearsofage,U.S.citizensforatleastnineyears,andresidentsofthestatetheyrepresent.ThemaindutyoftheCongressTomakelaws,levytaxes,declarewar,puttreatiesintoeffectAllbillshavetopassboththeSenateandtheHousebeforegoingtothePresidentforhissignatureDivisionofpowerTheHouse:draftrevenue-raisingbillsandhasthesolepowerofimpeachmentTheSenate:approvestreatiesandpresidentialappointments,tryimpeachmentcases.TermsBill:aproposedlawbeingconsideredbyalegislature.Lobbies:groupswhotrytopersuadecongressmentovoteoragainstabillLaw:abillpassedbybothhousesofCongressandsenttothepresidentforhissignature.游说集团:directandindirectExecutiveBranchThepresident:thechiefexecutive;electedtoafour-yeartermforonlytwoterms.Thevicepresident:toserveasthepresidingofficeroftheSenate;thevicepresidentmayvoteintheSenateonlyintheeventofatie.13departments:State,Treasury,Defense,Justice,Interior,Agriculture,Commerce,Labor,HealthandHumanServices,HousingandUrbanDevelopment,Transportation,EnergyandEducation.StateTreasuryDefenseJusticeInteriorAgricultureCommerce国务院财政部国防部司法部内政部农业部商务部LaborHealthandHumanServicesHousingandUrbanDevelopmentTransportationEnergyEducation劳工部卫生与公共事业部住房与城市发展部交通部能源部教育部WhiteHousetheofficialhomeandprincipalworkplaceofth