The American political system A quick overview

The system, how does it work? (1) The political system Checks and balances (federal and state level) Executive branch Presidential office Gubernatorial office Legislative branch US Congress State legislature Judicial branch Supreme Court State courts

The system, how does it work? (2) The electoral system (a) Parties: the donkey and the elephant Party lines 

The system, how does it work? (2) The electoral system (b) The system itself Gerrymandering

The system, how does it work? (3) Once the president has been elected Spoils system v. deep state Spoils: the winner gets to appoint people who have been loyal to him as a reward. Deep state: all the civil servants that endure regardless of who’s in power. Top 3 ranking people: 1) President (2 terms tops): Head of State + Commander-in-Chief. Can issue Executive Orders + appoint Supreme Court members and federal judges. Veto right + pocket veto. 2) VP: Presides over the Senate. Has the casting vote if tie. 3) House Speaker: Presides over the HoR, comes from the ranks of the majority. Spoils system v. deep state Spoils system (patronage system): when a president is elected, his party gets to choose and appoint the civil servants who are going to be his closest collaborators as a reward for their good work and as an incentive to make sure they remain loyal to the party. Deep state = the state within the state = the civil servants that remain in position over the years and that are said to steer policymaking in the direction that suits their interests best (cf anonymous editorial against Trump). Often used to hint at a conspiracy against someone who is not part of it. An internal organ that does not respond to the civilian political leadership. Although the state within a state can be conspiratorial in nature, the deep state can also take the form of entrenched unelected career civil servants acting in a non-conspiratorial manner, to further their own interests (e.g. continuity of the state as distinct from the administration, job security, enhanced power and authority, pursuit of ideological goals and objectives, and the general growth of their agency) and in opposition to the policies of elected officials, by obstructing, resisting, and subverting the policies, conditions and directives of elected officials.

The system, how does it work? (4) Lawmaking

The system, how does it work? (5) What if the president were not there? Death or other permanent impairment (such as impeachment) #1: VP #2: House Speaker Impeachment 1/2 of the HoR  motion to impeach 2/3 of the Senate  trial (conviction/acquittal)

What’s hot right now? (1) Starting Nov. 6th: midterm elections Investigations August: Michael Cohen pleads guilty, Trump admits to a federal crime August: Mueller investigation (collusion with Russia). More details here.

What’s hot right now? (2) Appointments and nominations May 2017: removal of James Comey and appointment of Christopher Wray at the head of the FBI. July: Brett Kavanaugh (Supreme Court) nominated to replace Justice Kennedy (retired) as an Associate Justice September 4th – 7th: Kavanaugh’s Confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. September: Trump threatens to fire Jess Sessions (DoJ) Criticism September 5th: anonymous editorial published by the New York Times. September: release of Bob Woodward’s book Fear: Trump in the Whitehouse

What’s hot right now? (3) Decisions 2017 2018: In the crosshairs Travel ban: executive order DREAM Act: rescinded 2018: Trade dispute with China and Europe Wall with Mexico: threat of government shutdown before the midterms In the crosshairs Dreamers and deportation (on hold as of March 2018) Obamacare (failed attempt) NAFTA (1994)