AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM United States Constitution 1787 Federalism = power sharing between national/federal & state govt’s examples of Federal & state laws? states’ rights Balance of power among the 3 branches of gov’t

Executive Legislative Judiciary US President – elections every 4 years State Governors Legislative Congress Senate – 6 year term of office House of Representatives – 2 year term State Legislatures Judiciary Supreme Court State Courts

The Supreme Court decides whether laws are constitutional judical review (balance of power) Bill of Rights = First 10 Amendments to the Constitution Civil War Amendments 13th outlawed slavery in 1865 14th Due Process & Equal Protection Clause 1868 15th right to vote regardless of race 1870

American Political Parties Two major parties that have evolved since the 19th century Democratic Party is oldest going back to the 1820’s supported slavery in the South Republican Party founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery movement with the election of Lincoln in 1860 it became a national presence. After the Civil War – each party represented a coalition of supporters: Democrats: white southerners, urban northerners, workers,Catholics Republicans: Blacks, northern elites, businessmen, middle classes primary force during the Progressive era = good governemnt fight corruption and support social and economic reforms After WWI/Great Depression – Democratic Party led by FDR and New Deal Supported by urban north, Blacks, immigrants, southerners Republicans promote laissez-faire economic theory and social conservatism Democrats support limited welfare state, taxation, regulation

1874 cartoon by Thomas Nast

US Presidents in chronological order: Political Party 1932 - 1945 1945 - 1952 1952 – 1960 1960 – 1963 1963 – 1968 1968 – 1974 1974 – 1976 1976 – 1980 1980 – 1988 1988 – 1992 1992 – 2000 2000 - 2008 2008 -