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The U.S. Political System
The U.S. Political System
Political
system
Lecturer: Lý Thị Hoàng Mến
Content
The governing system
The party system
The election system
Public participant in politics
I. The U.S. Governing system
Form of government: Federal Representative
Democratic Republic.
Basic principal: limited government
3 features to ensure the principle of limited
government:
1. Federalism
2. Separation of powers among 3 branches of
government
3. Checks and balances system
1. Federalism
Federalism or the federal organization of
government means the governing power is divided
between the federal government and state
government.
The federal government: has the power to control
issues at national level
E.g. national defense, communication and
transportation among states, declare war, etc.
1. Federalism
The individual state government: has power to
deal with issues at state level.
E.g. Criminal and civil laws
Public schools
Trade within the state
Division of Powers
Powers of F.G. Concurrent Power Powers of S.G.
- regulate foreign - collect taxes - regulate trade
trade & commerce - borrow money within the state
between states - establish and - establish local
- borrow & coin maintain courts governments
money - make and enforce - conduct elections
- conduct foreign laws - determine voter
relations with other - provide for health qualifications
nations and welfare of - establish & support
- establish post people public schools
offices and roads - incorporate
- raise & support business firms
armed forces - license professional
- declare war & workers
make peace - ratify amendments
- govern territories & - keep all the
admit new states “reserved powers”
- pass naturalization not granted to the
laws & regulate national
immigration government nor
- make all laws to prohibited to the
carry out powers states
Division of Powers
Powers denied to the Powers denied to both Powers denied to S.G.
F.G.
- tax exports - pass ex post to - coin money
- suspend writ of facto laws - enter into treaty
habeas corpus - pass bill of attainder - tax agencies of the
- change state - deny due process of federal government
boundaries without law - tax imports or
consent of states - grant titles of exports
involved nobility
- abridge the Bill of
Rights
2. Separation of Powers
Powers are separated among 3 branches of
government:
- Legislative branch
- Executive branch
- Judicial branch
=> Makes sure there’s no concentration of power in
the hands of a few or government power will not be
usurped by any individual or any group of
individuals.
Legislative Branch
Main function: to make laws
Congress has two Houses (bicameral legislative
system)
- The House of Representatives (The House):
+ 435 representatives
+ Term in office: 2 years
- The Senate:
+ 100 senators
+ Term in office: 6 years
Law Making Procedures
A law first begins as a “bill”
A bill is introduced in a House then sent to the
appropriate committee of this House to be carefully
studied
The committee report back to the House and
suggest any amendments. The bill is debated and
voted on. If it is passed, it is sent to the other House.
Law Making Procedures
A similar process takes place in the other House.
If the bill is passed by both Houses, it is sent to the
President for his signature => the bill becomes a law.
If the bill is rejected or amended by the other
House, a “conference committee” is made up to
work out a compromise.
Executive Branch
Function: Implement laws passed by Congress
Structure:
- President:
+ elected to a 4-year term
+ can be re-elected to a 2nd term
- Vice – president:
+ elected with the president
+ 2 constitutional duties: to preside over the Senate +
to assume the presidency if the president cannot fulfill
his responsibilities.
Executive Branch: Powers
of the President
Chief executive: appoints people to important
positions in the governing system.
Head of State: represents the country abroad,
works with foreign leaders, addresses the public.
Director of foreign policy: appoint ambassadors,
makes treaties with other nations.
Commanders-in-chief of the armed forces.
Head of his political party.
Judicial Branch
Function: determine whether constitution and laws
are violated.
Structure:
- Federal courts system headed by the Supreme
Court
- State courts system
- Local/ District courts system
Checks and Balances system
Each House may initiate legislation and reject a bill
proposed by the other House.
No bill can become law without the approval of
both Houses and the President.
The U.S. president and Congress are elected
separately, housed separately, and operate
separately.
A president may belong to one party while one or
both Houses may be dominated by the other party.
II. The U.S. Party System