The United States: A Presidential-Congressional System

Principal features: A federal and presidential system with pronounced separation of powers among three branches of government US Constitution provides for: –A President or Head of State elected through the electoral college (4 year term) –A Congress consisting of The House of Representatives, elected for 2 year terms (435 Congressmen) The Senate: 2 Senators per state, elected for 6 year terms (staggered – 1/3 of the Senate elected every 2 years) Supreme Court

The President Responsibilities: –Commander-in-chief of the armed forces –Heads the executive branch of government: must see to the faithful execution of the laws of the United States Has power, subject to the ‘advise and consent’ of the Senate to appoint –Members of the cabinet –Justices of the Supreme Court –Ambassadors –Certain other offices

The Congress A bi-cameral legislature consisting of the –House of Representatives (lower house, 435 members) –Senate (upper house, 100 members) –Both share the legislative power – to become law, a bill must pass both through both Houses of Congress in identical form

The Supreme Court Nine justices –Appointed by President for ‘good behaviour’ (life) –Senate must approve nominations –Congress can decide size & jurisdiction of the Court Acts only on matters brought to it, –but the Court decides which cases it will hear Has power of judicial review: –Court can declare laws passed by states or the Congress unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison, 1803)

Checks and balances: Reflecting fears of abuse of power: Senate must approve nominations to court, cabinet and other appointments President can veto laws passed by Congress. Congress can override a presidential veto by a 2/3 majority Supreme Court can declare legislation unconstitutional

The American Party System A two party system with two broadly based parties, the Democrats and the Republicans Parties encompass divergent interests: –Democrats: party of the moderate (but not very far) left. Prefer more government intervention –Republicans: party of the right Prefer less government intervention Divided between economic and social conservatives (religious right) Increasingly the majority party Party discipline in Congress is weak

Presidential power Actual power and influence varies: –Some presidents are stronger and more effective than others May be commander-in-chief, but lacks automatic support in Congress: –Not unusual for the other party to control one or both houses of Congress –Even when the President’s party controls the House and Senate, no guarantee that President’s program will pass (e.g Clinton’s Health Insurance bill) President’s power: depends on ability to persuade (Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power)

Divided control: : Democratic Presidents, Republican majorities in Congress only in 1946 and Eisenhower (Rep) as President; Democrats control Congress : Kennedy and Johnson (Dem), Democratic Congress : Nixon and Ford R), as President (Dem. Congress) : Carter (D) + Democratic Congress Reagan (R) + Dem. Congress Bush Sr. (R) + Dem. Congress Clinton (D) plus increasingly R Congress 2000-present - Bush Jr. (R) , Divided Congress Republican Congress