GOVERNMENT OF THE USA Standard Grade Modern Studies Syllabus Area 3: Ideologies - USA
DEMOCRACY The USA is a DEMOCRATIC country. It has a FEDERAL system of government. This means that there are THREE levels of government.
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT 1.FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – Overall government for the whole of America. 2. STATE GOVERNMENT – Each individual state also has its own government. 3. COUNTY/LOCAL GOVERNMENT – Decisions also made by elected representatives in local areas.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The Federal level of government is separated into three different branches. The constitution gave each individual branch of government very different powers. This was done deliberately to make sure that no single branch became too powerful or corrupt. This is called the SEPARATION OF POWERS.
3 BRANCHES FEDERAL GOV. 1.EXECUTIVE: President and Vice- President 2.LEGISLATIVE: Senate and House of Representatives (Congress) 3.JUDICIAL: Supreme Court
FEDERAL LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN) PRESIDENTSENATOR
STATE LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER STATE GOVERNORSTATE SENATOR
LOCAL LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES TAX COLLECTOR SHERIFFMAYOR
ACTIVITY Read page 16 “Ideology and Emerging Nations”. Complete questions 3 and 5 (page 18).