US Politics PDF

US Political system  Founding Documents of US Politics -- values for a tradition Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) Constitution of the United States (1787/1788) Bill of Rights (1789/1791): the first 10 amendments to the US C...

US Political system  Founding Documents of US Politics -- values for a tradition Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) Constitution of the United States (1787/1788) Bill of Rights (1789/1791): the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution  Declaration of Independence ”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”  Constitution of the United States Three principles: federalism separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial) checks & balances US Congress – federal legislature The White House – federal executive The federal Supreme Court – federal judiciary  Federalism Sovereign power – divided btw state governments and federal gvmt Tenth Amendment to the Const.: powers expressedly not delegated to the Federal gvmt are reserved to the states hierarchy of law: Federal Constitution – state constitutions -- state and local laws judicial review: fed. Supreme Court -- final interpreter of the US Const. In “cases and controversies” -- i.e. when asked  Separation of powers Legislative (Congress + support agencies) executive (President and executive bureaucracy), and judicial (Supreme Court + other federal courts) branches  Implementing the principle President, members of the executive branch, and judicial branch cannot sit in Congress president, senators, representatives -- selected in independent elections scheduled at different times different areas elect them: national, state, congressional districts -- the branches are responsible to different voters different branches are often controlled by different major parties powers for each branch are listed separately: no concentration of power in any one branch  Checks and balances President nominating federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, but the Senate must confirm their appointment. Federal treaties negotiated by the executive must be approved by the Senate President can veto federal legislation a President’s veto can be overriden by 2/3 majorities of both houses bills must pass both houses to become law (houses of Congress balancing one another) Congress can remove members of other branches by impeachment Congress can create, regulate, or eliminate parts of the executive below the Vice President and of the judicial branch below the Supreme Court.  Constitutional change 1) Amendment process: Amendments have enhanced fed. power at the expense of the states: e.g. 16th amendment: power granted to fed. gvmt to tax any kind of income + democratized participation in gvmt: e.g. 13th amendment (abol. of slavery), 14th am. (citizenship for former slaves), 19th am. (voting right for women)  2) informal changes in the Const. A) political parties B) primary elections C) congressional committee systems D) the executive office of the President E) judicial review  Political parties Original hostility to parties (factions -- private interest, not the common good) current party system: Democrats v. Republicans as major parties several types of election -- many fragmented electoral interests. Need for parties: recruiting, screening, nominating candidates for elections must be organized.  Factors promoting a two-party system in the US: few political parties, and mainly coalitions of interests forming before elections. Presidency -- two national coalitions: party in the White House + party of everybody else division of voters into two groups on important issues.  Differences btw parties Democrats: moderate to liberal pol. orientation government management of economy, social safety net, gun control, abortion rights. Republicans: uniformly conservative -- small gvmt, minimal regulation of business, low taxes, private solution to social problems party organization: local, state and national level -- separated from one another. Third parties: Socialist Party, Libertarian Party -- small followings  Legislation: No longer the dominant branch of the federal gvmt. (Founders’ original intention) Its main functions: lawmaking, forming structures for implementing policy, raising gvmt funds, advising President on foreign affairs and appointments  Chambers of Congress House of Representatives (435 + 3 for D.C.) elections: every two years, smaller electoral districts -- closer reflection of voters’ opinion Speaker of the House -- power to work the chamber, limit debate and restrict amendments to a bill from the floor, power over who speaks in a debate. House of Representatives  Upper chamber Senate (100 - 2 x 50) elections: every six years for one third of the chamber entire states represented Senate chamber  Powers of Congress Law-making ‘case-work’ -- members dealing with pressure groups’ and voters’ complaints and requests federal budget regulating foreign and interstate commerce raising, financing, and regulate military forces; declaring war  Congressional elections House of Representatives: one member from each congressional district (438 districts/members altogether) Senate: states -- 2 from each Reapportionment of congressional seats every ten years among states. Each district: 550,000 people -- one-man- one vote principle  Nature of Congress Difference from a parliamentary system: no party commitment demanded from members, because government support does not depend on party support. Members’ commitment is to the congressional district they represent. Personalities and positions on issues matter more than party affiliation.  Executive branch: President, Vice-President, government departments, agencies, embassies (Cabinet – heads of departments) The Oval Office  President Qualifications: natural-born citizen, 35 years old, US resident for 14 years at least. Independent of Congress (not elected by it). Price: no guarantee of majority in the Senate or H. of Representatives. Duties not mentioned in the US Const.: chief of state, leader of party. Duties mentioned in the US Const.: highest ranking officer, foreign policy leader, legislative leader (setting legisl. agenda)  Presidential elections Feb-June: presidential primaries (same party, different candidates), presidential caucuses (parties choose the candidate) August- Nov.: post-convention campaign -- party candidates run until voters appear at the polls. Popular votes are cast in November and are counted by state. Voters vote for electors -- 538 electors in the e. college. Electors cast ballots in mid-December for the winning candidate of the given state. State-winning candidate receives all the votes in the college: e.g. Florida -- 27 electoral votes went to G. W. Bush in 2000. (The number of votes equals the number of members for the state in the Congress.) winner: the one winning the majority of the electoral college, i.e. 270 votes.  US judicial system Supreme Court courts of appeal (13) district courts - cases from courts of appeal and state supreme courts - 9 justices -- terms for life (under “good behavior”) – appointed by the President - judicial review: to decide whether congressional, presidential or state acts are in line with the Const. The US Supreme Court