American-Political-System

MountRushmoreCapitolBuildingTheWhiteHouseSupremeCourtBuildingChapter10USPoliticalInstitutionsI.TheUSConstitutionII.TheExecutiveBranchIII.TheLegislativeBranchIV.TheJudicialBranchV.PoliticalPartiesAmericanConstitutionTheConstitutionof1787-theoldestwrittenconstitutionintheworldTheUSConstitution•TwoCharacteristicsFederalismSeparationofpowers:checksandbalancesFederalism•Federalismmeansthedivisionofthepowersofgovernmentbetweenthenationandthestate.EachAmericanissubjecttotwogovernments:•1)thegovernmentofhisstateand•2)thegovernmentoftheUnion.•Thestateshavetheprimaryfunctionsofprovidinglawandorder,education,publichealthandmostofthethings,whichconcernday-to-daylife.•ThefederalgovernmentatWashingtonisconcernedwithforeignaffairsandwithmattersofgeneralconcerntothestates,includingcommercebetweenthestates.TheUSConstitution•Separationofpowers:checksandbalancesSeparationofPowersItreferstotheprinciplethatthenationalgovernmentissplitinto3branches:legislative,executiveandjudicial.Inthelegislativebranch,powerissplitfurtherinto2houses.PP.132ExecutiveBranchPresidentLegislativeBranchCongressJudicialBranchSupremeCourtTHECONSTITUTIONOFTHEU,S,1787Article1.Sec.1.AlllegislativePowershereingrantedshallbevestedinaCongressoftheUnitedStates,whichshallconsistofaSenateandaHouseofRepresentativesArticle2.Sec.1.TheexecutivePowershallbevestedinaPresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.HeshallholdhisofficeduringtheTermoffouryears……THECONSTITUTIONOFTHEU,S,1787Article3.Sec.1.ThejudicialpoweroftheUnitedStates,shallbevestedinonesupremeCourt,andinsuchinferiorCourtsastheCongressmayfromtimetotimeordainandestablish.THECONSTITUTIONOFTHEU,S,1787checksandbalances•Separationofpowers:checksandbalancesChecksandBalancesEachbranchhaspartofthepowersbutnotallthepower.Eachbranchofgovernmentcancheck,orblock,theactionsoftheother.The3branchesareinbalance.ChecksandBalancesCongressmaypassalaw,butthePresidentcanveto,orcancelit.ThenCongressmaypassthelawagain---thistimebya2/3vote---andthepresidentcannotvetoit.ButthelawmaystillbecancellediftheSupremeCourtdecidesitunconstitutional.TheCongresscanimpeach(sack)thepresidentoraSupremeCourtjudgeChecksandBalances•ExamplesArticle4.•TheCongress,whenevertwothirdsofbothhousesshalldeemitnecessary,shallproposeAmendmentstothisConstitutionTHECONSTITUTIONOFTHEU,S,1787AmendmentIIAwellregulatedMilitiabeingnecessarytothesecurityofafreeState,therightofthepeopletokeepandbearArmsshallnotbeinfringed.纪律严明的民兵是保障自由州的安全所必需的，人民持有和携带武器的权利不可侵犯。TheThreeDocumentsThatMadeAmericaPoliticalPrinciplesoftheU.S.GovernmentTheseparationofpowersFederalismRespectfortheconstitutionandtheruleoflawUSFederalGovernmentTheLegislativeBranch•ATwo-chamber(Bicameral)CongresstheSenate(UpperHouse)2/states6-yeartermstheVicePresidenttheHouseofRepresentatives(LowerHouse)determinedbypopulation2-yeartermsSpeakerQualificationsSenatorsMembersoftheHouseofRepresentativeUSCapitolBuilding•PowersoftheHouseandSenateBothHouseshavethepowertointroducelegislationonanysubject.TheSenatehastheauthoritytoconfirmpresidentialappointmentsofhighofficialsaswellasratifyalltreaties.TheHousehaspoweroverrevenuebillsandbringschargesofimproperbehaviorofofficials.TheLegislativeBranchHowaBillBecomesaLaw•1.AmemberofCongressintroducesabill•2.CommitteesreviewandvoteonthebillCommitteesaremadeupofsmallgroupsofsenatorsorrepresentatives.Thecommitteemayrejectthebilland“table”it,meaningitisneverdiscussedagain.Oritmayholdhearingstolistentofactsandopinions,makechangesinthebillandcastvotes.Ifmostcommitteemembersvoteinfavorofthebill,itissentbacktotheSenateandtheHousefordebate.•3.TheSenateandtheHousedebateandvoteonthebillSeparately,theSenateandtheHousedebatethebill,offeramendmentsandcastvotes.IfthebillisdefeatedineithertheSenateortheHouse,thebilldies.IfamajorityofboththeSenateandtheHousevotesforthebill,itgoestothePresidentforapproval.•4.ThePresidentsignsthebill—ornotIfthePresidentapprovesthebillandsignsit,thebillbecomesalaw.However,ifthePresidentdisapproves,hecanvetothebillbyrefusingtosignit.Congresscantrytooverruleaveto.IfboththeSenateandtheHousepassthebillbyatwo-thirdsmajority,thePresident'svetoisoverruledandthebillbecomesalaw.HowaBillBecomesaLawTheExecutiveBranch•ThePresidencyTheformofgovernmentintheUSisdescribedasthe“presidentialsystem”.Thepresidentisheadoftheexecutivebranch,headofthestate,andcommanderofthearmedforces.TheFirstCitizen﹥﹥TheFirstLadyTwosuccessivefour-yearstermsQualificationsforaUSPresidentAnatural-bornAmericancitizenatleast35yearsold.CandidatesforthePresidencyarechosenbypoliticalpartiesbeforethepresidentialelectionExecutivepowersissuerules,regulationsandinstructions,calledexecutiveorders.theCommander-in-chiefofthearmedforces.LegislativepowersissuebillsandpoliticalordersvetoanybillpassedbyCongressand,unless2/3ineachhousevotetooverridetheveto,thebilldoesnotbecomelaw.PresidentialPowersPowersinforeignaffairsrelationswithforeignnations.Heappointsambassadorsandreceivesforeignambassadorsandotherpublicofficials.Judicialpowerstogivereprievesandpardonsinfederalcriminalcases.offerapardontoagroupofpeople,anamnestyinfluencethe