DO NOW Study the map. What does it tell you about politics and the system of government in the United States of America?

Who is responsible? Marriage = local & state government Education = local & state government Law & order = local, state & federal government Defence = federal government

Learning objectives To gain a broad overview of the US system of government and how it works To gain a flavour of US political discourse, including some current issues

Codified Uncodified FederalUnitary Differences in constitution

RoleUnited KingdomUnited States Head of stateMonarch Head of the executive branch government Prime minister Main committee of the executive branch Cabinet Dominant legislative bodyHouse of Commons Subsidiary legislative bodyHouse of Lords Chief judicial bodySupreme Court What do we think we know? Copy and complete the following table based on your own knowledge:

RoleUnited KingdomUnited States Head of stateMonarchPresident Head of the executive branch government Prime ministerPresident Main committee of the executive branch Cabinet Dominant legislative bodyHouse of CommonsHouse of Representatives Subsidiary legislative bodyHouse of LordsSenate Chief judicial bodySupreme Court What do we think we know? Copy and complete the following table based on your own knowledge:

UK: ‘Fusion’ of powers Executive (Prime minister & Cabinet, Govt Depts, Civil Service) Legislature (House of Commons & House of Lords) Personnel Accountability Electorate Legitimacy & Accountability Judiciary (Supreme Court) Accountability

US: Separation of powers Executive (President & Cabinet) Legislature (House of Representatives, Senate) Constitution Accountability Electorate Judiciary (Supreme Court) Legitimacy

Pros and cons? Executive (President & Cabinet) Legislature (House of Representatives, Senate) Constitution Accountabilit y Electorate Judiciary (Supreme Court) Legitimacy Executive (Prime minister & Cabinet,) Legislature (House of Commons & Lords) Personnel Accountability Electorate Legitimacy & Accountability Judiciary (Supreme Court) Accountabilit y United KingdomUnited States of America

Checks and balances Checks on → Checks by ↓ LegislatureExecutiveJudiciary Legislature Amend/delay/ reject legislation Override president’s veto Power of the purse Power to declare war Ratify treaties (Senate) Confirm executive appointments (Senate) Impeachment, trial, conviction, removal from office Propose constitutional amendments Executive Recommend legislation Veto legislation Appointment of judges pardons Judiciary Judicial review

The 13 colonies won their independence from Britain in the Revolutionary War, G. Washington T. JeffersonB. Franklin The Liberty Bell

The free and independent states needed one strong national government. That’s why in 1787 all the states sent their representatives to Philadelphia where they wrote the Constitution. The Constitution

The President is elected every four years. (S)He can hold office for two terms only (XXII Amendment). Functions: Head of State; Commander-in-Chief; controls foreign policy; appoints secretaries (ministers). The Presidency

The Vice-President is elected together with President. He takes President’s office if President is unable to finish his term. The Presidency

The Congress makes the laws and controls finances. The Congress meets in the US Capitol. The Congress

The House of Representatives has 435 representatives; the number of congressmen from each state depends on the number of people who live in each state; elections take place every two years. The Congress (cont’d)

The Senate has 100 senators, two from every state; one-third of them is elected every two years for a six-year term. The Congress (cont’d)

Comparing representative bodies U.S.A.U.K. Upper HouseSenateHouse of Lords – membership100 Senators791 peers – electoral cycle/process6 years / FPTPn.a. Lower HouseHouse of RepresentativesHouse of Commons – membership435 Congressmen650 MPs – electoral cycle/process2 years / FPTP5 years / FPTP Avg. population of electoral constituency – lower house 650 k67 k

The Supreme Court: nine judges are appointed for life by the President. Functions: interprets constitution, tests laws. The Supreme Court

Democrats Low Income Union Members/Blue Collar Workers Environmentalists Minorities Women Younger voters Urban Areas Northeastern & West Coast States Republicans Wealthy Business Owners/CEO’s Men People who identify themselves as religious Military members Older voters Rural/Suburban areas Western & Southern States Political parties

Oldest Political Party in the US, dating to 1792 Symbolized by the Donkey Famous Democrats: Thomas Jefferson (1 st Dem. To be President), FDR, JFK, Bill & Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama The Democratic Party

Also known as the GOP (Grand Old Party) Created as a 3 rd opposing slavery in the 1850’s Symbolized by the Elephant Famous Republicans: Abraham Lincoln (1 st Rep. President), Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, The Bush Family The Republican Party

ISSUEDemocratsRepublicans TaxesRaise taxes on wealthy, cut or maintain tax amounts on middle class or poor Cut taxes for all people and on businesses AbortionPro-ChoicePro-Life Gun ControlPlace more restrictions on guns/gun ownership Less restrictions on guns/gun owners Death PenaltyAgainstSupport Welfare ProgramsSupport most of these and making sure they are available long term Place more rules and limits on these programs to cut down costs The Parties on the Issues

ISSUEDem. PositionRep. Position Military ForceUsually slower to use military, want support from other countries, willing to cut spending on military Quicker to support military action, willing to usually spend large amounts of $$ on the military ImmigrationAllow a way for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship, make it easier to become a citizen Treat illegal immigrants as criminals. Supportive of building a fence along US/Mexico border EnvironmentMore rules to protect environment. Against offshore drilling for oil or drilling in Alaska Less rules, ok to drill offshore or anywhere else in US Business vs. Workers Support more rights for workers/unions. Higher taxes on business and more rules for them to follow Anti-Union, less rules for businesses to follow The Parties on the Issues (cont’d)

The largest party in the USA is the Democratic Party with 42 million members Republicans claim 30 million Independents make up 24 million people Both parties have seen huge falls in membership since Party membership

Political PartyPolitical Ideology Party identification

The national picture

2012 Presidential Election Result