The political system of the USA

The political system of the USA
Government
Presidential Republic
50 states, centralized government in Washington
Separation of powers

The political system of the USA
Separation of powers
Executive
leading the affairs of the state
Cabinet - President - Vice President - 15 ministers
Legislative
enacting and discussing laws
Congress - House of Representatives (435) - Senate (100)
Judiciary
Pushing through the laws
Supreme Court (=highest judicial body)

The political system of the USA
State Government
Each State has its own separate government
There are 3 branches
State governor
State legislative
State court
Responsibilities
Police
Education
Transport
Social Welfare
Health

The political system of the USA
Congress:
Power of the purse
Can override presidential veto
(2/3 majority)
Power of impeachment
Senate approves treaties and
the president’s appointments
Supreme Court:
Power to declare laws and
presidential actions
unconstitutional
The President:
Power to veto
Issues executive orders
Commander-in-chief
Appoints Federal Judges
Grants Pardons for offenses
against the US

The political system of the USA
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States. The United States Constitution is the oldest written constitution (when defined as a single document) still in use by any nation in the world.

The political system of the USA
Political Parties
Republican Party
They believe in low taxation
And little interference from the Federal Government. The encourage individuals to work hard and do not like welfare.
A party for the rich and Middle Class.

The political system of the USA
Republican Presidents
Dwight Eisenhower
1953-61
Richard Nixon
1969-74
Gerard Ford
1974-77

The political system of the USA
Political Parties
Democratic Party
Believe it is the governments duty to distribute wealth
Evenly. They introduce higher taxation and welfare
benefits.
Their support comes from urban areas and minorities.

The political system of the USA
Democrat Presidents
John F Kennedy 1961-63
Lyndon B Johnson
1963-68
Jimmy Carter 1977-81
Harry Truman1945-53

The political system of the USA
Democrats and Republicans
And Their Voters
Democrats supported by majority of black voters (Clinton 83%)
Urban ethnics
Blue collar workers
Catholics
More women voters
Northeast, upper midwest, northwest, Hawaii
Protestant voters
Business community
White collar workers
Religious fundamentalists

The political system of the USA
Democrats and Republicans and Their Policies
Democrats
Support welfare programs
Keynesian economics and job creating programs
Social security, Medicare and Medicaid
Civil Rights legislation
Women’s right to abortion
Rebublicans
Limiting federal regulation of business
Reduction in welfare spending
Anti-abortion

The political system of the USA
Presidential elections
Plurality voting system: „The winner takes all!“
Election of a party in form of electors
Elected electors represent the opinion of their state in the „Electoral College“
The party with the most votes gets all the electoral votes of this state -> The parties have to look that they win in the states with a high amount of electors.

The political system of the USA
Problem
Parties and candidates try to get as many as possible votes in states with a high amount of electors and ignore the others
The party with more than 270 electoral votes wins, though an other one has more votes of the people in fact (f.e. Bush vs. Gore)

The political system of the USA
Barack Obama
was elected the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Democratic Party
is the first Black Man ever elected to the highest office in the United States

The political system of the USA
Obama‘s policy

The political system of the USA

The political system of the USA