II.

2 Federal government (Na)

II.2.1 Branches:

II.2.1.1 Legislative

II.2.1.1.1 Components

The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which
together form the United States Congress. The House of Representatives is made up of
435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population.
In addition, there are 6 non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other territories of the United States: American
Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, elected by the
Representatives. He or she is third in the line of succession to the Presidency. Members
of the House are elected every two years and must be 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at
least seven years, and a resident of the state they represent. The Senate is composed of
100 Senators, 2 for each state. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913,
Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. Since then, they have
been elected to six-year terms by the people of each state. Senators’ terms are staggered
so that about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. Senators must
be 30 years of age, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and residents of the state they
represent.

II.2.1.1.2 Responsibilities
The responsibility of Congress to propose and pass laws. Only members of Congress can
introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of
the President, such as the annual federal budget. During the legislative process, however,
the initial bill can undergo drastic changes. A bill is first considered in a subcommittee,
where it may be accepted, amended, or rejected entirely. If the members of the
subcommittee agree to move a bill forward, it is reported to the full committee, where the
process is repeated again. If the full committee votes to approve the bill, it is reported to
the floor of the House or Senate. A bill must pass both houses of Congress before it goes
to the President for consideration.

II.2.1.1.3 Powers

Congress, as one of the three branches of government, is ascribed significant powers by

the Constitution. All legislative power in the government is vested in Congress, meaning
that it is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws.
The President may veto bills Congress passes, but Congress may also override a veto by a
two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
 II.2.1.2 Executive

II.2.1.2.1 Components

The executive branch consists of the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet and the
Departments, and the independent agencies.

The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of
America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The Executive Office of the
President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such
as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade
Representative. The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15
executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the
members of the Cabinet are often the President’s closest confidants.

There are Departments included:

- Department of agriculture
- Department of commerce
- Department of defense
- Department of education
- Department of energy
- Department of health and human services
- Department of homeland security
- Department of housing and urban development
- Department of the interior
- Department of justice
- Department of labor
- Department of state
- Department of transportation
- Department of the treasury
- Department of veterans affairs

II.2.1.2.2 Responsibilities

The President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by
Congress. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent federal
commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board or the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as well as federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal offices.

II.2.1.2.3 Powers

The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by
Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.
The Executive Branch conducts diplomacy with other nations and the President has the
power to negotiate and sign treaties, which the Senate ratifies. The President can issue
executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further existing laws. The
President also has the power to extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes.
 II.2.1.3 Judicial

II.2.1.3.1 Components

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme (highest) Court, eleven Circuit Courts of
Appeals, and ninety-four District Courts.

II.2.1.3.2 Responsibilities

This branch explains and interprets laws and makes decisions in lawsuits. Before issuing
a ruling, the Supreme Court usually hears oral arguments, where the various parties to the
suit present their arguments and the Justices ask them questions. If the case involves the
federal government, the Solicitor General of the United States presents arguments on
behalf of the United States. The Justices then hold private conferences, make their
decision, and issue the Court’s opinion, along with any dissenting arguments that may
have been written.

II.2.1.3.3 Powers

It has power over the other two branches because it can declare their laws and actions
unconstitutional. No law or action can contradict the U.S. Constitution, which is the
supreme law of the land. The court can only review a law that is brought before it through
a lawsuit. State courts also have the power to review state laws or actions based upon
their state constitutions.

II.2.2 Political parties

II.2.2.1 Core parties

II.2.2.1.1 Democratic party

Democratic Party, in the United States, one of the two major political parties, the other
being the Republican Party. The Democratic Party has changed significantly during its
more than two centuries of existence. During the 19th century the party supported or
tolerated slavery, and it opposed civil rights reforms after the American Civil War in
order to retain the support of Southern voters. By the mid-20th century it had undergone a
dramatic ideological realignment and reinvented itself as a party supporting organized
labor, the civil rights of minorities, and progressive reform. In general people consider
the Democrats today more liberal than the Republicans, Democrats often want the
government to establish social programs for people in need, such as the poor, the
unemployed, and the elderly. They usually say they believe in equal rights for women
and minorities and they oppose nuclear weapons and too much military spending. The
logo of the Democratic Party, the donkey, was popularized by cartoonist Thomas Nast in
the 1870s, though widely used, it has never been officially adopted by the party.

The Democratic Party is the oldest political party in the United States and among the
oldest political parties in the world. It traces its roots to 1792, when followers of Thomas
Jefferson adopted the name Republican to emphasize their anti-monarchical views.
There have been 15 US presidents from the Democratic Party, the first being Andrew
Jackson, who served from 1829 to 1837. The last Democratic president was Joe Biden.

II.2.2.1.2 Republican party

The Republican Party began in 1854 on slavery issues. Republicans oppose slavery. After
the Civil War, the Republican Party became interested in agricultural, land, and business
issues. Overall, Republicans voted more conservative than Democrats. Experiencing
many political ideas from its founding to the present, in general the political thought of
the Republican Party tends to be traditional, revolving around preserving and maintaining
traditional values. They support a free market economy, minimal government
intervention in the economy, low taxes, tightening of illegal immigration, support for
fetal survival and anti-abortion. pregnancy, anti-gay marriage, anti-gun control. Because
of their traditional tendencies, most people of the faith favor the Republican Party.
Southern states have traditionally been pro-Republican.

There are currently 20 Republican presidents, most notably Abraham Lincoln. He was
instrumental in the abolition of slavery in the United States in the 19th century. He served
from 1861 until his assassination in 1865 while serving his second term as president.

II.3 Variations (Thư)

The US presidential election is often understood as a confrontation between the

Democratic Party and the Republican Party, the two largest political parties in the United
States. However, these are not the only two parties in this country, there are many other
parties that exist.

II.3.1 The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party was founded in 1971 in Colorado. The original members were non-
supporters of President Richard Nixon's administration. Gary Johnson, the 2012 and 2016
Liberal presidential candidate, said the party tends to be more progressive than the
Democrats on social issues, but more conservative than the Republicans on finances.
Liberal fiscal policy focuses on reducing taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS), reducing debt, allowing people not to participate in Social Security, eliminating
state benefits by relying on organizations private charity. Socially, the Liberals support
criminal justice reform, end the death penalty, support same-sex marriage and support
gun ownership. The Liberal Party is the third largest party in terms of membership in the
United States, owning one seat in the House of Representatives

II.3.2 Green party

Green party was founded in 2001. The Green party in the US has a green political trend,
focusing on environmental issues, based on: Ecological wisdom, social equality,
grassroots democracy, and non-violence motion. The Green Party attaches great
importance to education, calling for free teaching at public universities and vocational
schools, increasing funding for after-school programs, and canceling student loans. In
2006, the Green party developed a new Green Deal, with the desire to fully use clean,
renewable energy by 2030. To do this, the party focused on carbon taxation, job security,
free college tuition, building a single-payer healthcare system, and a focus on public
services. The Greens share similar interests with the Liberals on social issues such as
support for same-sex marriage, abolition of the death penalty, and equal rights for
African-Americans.

The Green Party does not have a member of Congress or hold a legislative position in the
states.

In addition, there are many other parties operating such as the Reform party, the
Constitution party, and the Independence party