1. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 1 Long V Nguyen, PhD nvlong@cfl.udn.vn University of Danang College of Foreign Languages

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3. The US government system 3 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

4. The Constitution  The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, confirms that the government would draw its power from the people themselves and exercise it through their elected representatives.  The Articles of Confederation failed as a governing document for the United States because the states did not cooperate as expected. To cure this weakness, the congress asked each state to send a delegate to a convention. The so-called Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in May of 1787, with George Washington presiding.  The delegates struck a balance between those who wanted a strong central government and those who did not.  Constitution, set up a system in which some powers were given to the national, or federal, government, while others were reserved for the states.  The Constitution divided the national government into three parts, or branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Called “separation of powers,” this division gives each branch some authority over the others through a system of “checks and balances.”three parts branches 4 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

5. Checks and balances  If Congress passes a proposed law, or "bill," that the president considers unwise, he can veto it.  That means that the bill is dead unless two-thirds of the members of both the House and the Senate vote to enact it despite the president's veto.  If Congress passes and the president signs, a law that is challenged in the federal courts as contrary to the Constitution, the courts can nullify that law.  The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make appointments to federal positions, including judgeships.  The Senate, however, must approve all treaties and confirm the appointments before they can go into effect. 5 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

6. Legislative branch  The legislative branch - the Congress - is made up of elected representatives from each of the 50 states. It is the only branch of U.S. government that can make federal laws, levy federal taxes, declare war, and put foreign treaties into effect.legislative branch  Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms. Each member represents a district in his or her home state. To be selected as an MP, a person must be at least 25 years of ages and 7 years as citizen of the US.  The number of districts is determined by a census, which is conducted every 10 years. The most populous states are allowed more representatives than the smaller ones, some of which have only one. In all, there are 435 representatives in the House. The governor of a state appoints the vacancy with authorization of the state legislature.  Senators are elected to six-year terms. Each state has two senators, regardless of population. Senators' terms are staggered. There are 100 senators. To be selected as a senator, a person must be at least 30 years of age and 9 years as citizen of the US. The governor of a state appoints the vacancy with authorization of the state legislature. 6 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

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8. HowHow congress makes laws 8 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

9. How congress makes laws 9 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

10. Executive branch  The chief executive of the United States is the president, who together with the vice president is elected to a four-year term.  As a result of a constitutional amendment that went into effect in 1951, a president may be elected to only two terms.  The president's powers are formidable but not unlimited. As the chief formulator of national policy, the president proposes legislation to Congress. As mentioned previously, the president may veto any bill passed by Congress.  The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president has the authority to appoint federal judges as vacancies occur, including justices of the Supreme Court.  As head of his political party, with ready access to the news media, the president can easily influence public opinion.  Within the executive branch, the president has broad powers to issue regulations and directives carrying out the work of the federal government's departments and agencies. The president appoints the heads and senior officials of those departments and agencies. Heads of the major departments, called "secretaries," are part of the president's cabinet.executive branch 10 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

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13. Executive branch  The President's Cabinet -- the Department Secretaries and the federal agencies they run - administer the nation's federal programs, from agriculture policy to veterans' affairs. Below is a Current List of the US Departments: Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Education Department of Energy Department of the Interior Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of Labor Department of State Department of Transportation Department of the Treasury Department of Veteran's Affairs Department of Health and Human Services 13 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

14. Federal vs. State government 14 College of Foreign Languages - UDN 1.The federal government is in the form of a democratic republic, which means that the people elect representatives. 2.It is a representative democracy because the people have the power through their elected representatives. 3.The government follows the principles of a constitution with its bill of rights. 4.The government has three branches with different responsibilities and powers. 5.The legislative branch has two houses that make laws. 1.State government is in the form of a democratic republic, which means that the people elect representatives. 2.In addition to power through their elected state representatives, the people have direct power through the initiative, referendum, and recall processes. 3.The government follows the principles of a constitution with its bill of rights. 4.The government has three branches with different responsibilities and powers. 5. The legislative branch has two houses that make laws.

15. Federal vs. State government 15 College of Foreign Languages - UDN 6.The upper house in the Senate, and the lower house in the House of Representatives. 7.The leaders of the executive branch are the U.S. President and Vice President. 8.The President appoints the members of the Cabinet. These advisors (“Secretaries”) are the heads of federal departments. 9.The judicial branch of the federal government judges cases of federal law. 10.The highest court is the U.S. Supreme Court. There are also circuit courts of appeals and district courts. 6. The upper house in a senate, and the lower house is a state assembly or a house of representatives. 7.The leaders of the executive branch are the governor and the lieutenant governor. 8.The executive branch includes advisors to the governor. Some advisors are elected and some are appointed. 9.The judicial branch of state government judges cases of state law. 10.The highest court is the state supreme court. There may also be appellate (appeals), county, superior, district, circuit, municipal, and special courts.

16. Federal vs. State government 16 College of Foreign Languages - UDN Only the federal government:Only a state government:  declares war  supports the armed forces  coins money  establishes and maintains post offices  gives authors and inventors the exclusive right to their work (copyrights or patents)  makes treaties with the governments of other countries  maintains a police force  supports a state militia, such as the National Guard  regulates transportation and trade within the state  establishes and maintains schools  oversees local governments and grants city charters

17. Federal vs. State government 17 College of Foreign Languages - UDN Both the federal and state governments:  fund public projects (buildings, dams, highways, etc.)  support farming and business  maintain court systems  regulate banks The federal government usually provides funding and the states distribute the money and provide programs for:  public assistance for people in need  health care  protection of natural resources  improvements in living and working conditions. Summary.Summary

18. Political parties  Two major political parties in the United States, the Democratic and the Republican.  The Democratic Party evolved from the party of Thomas Jefferson, formed before 1800.  The Republican Party was established in the 1850s by Abraham Lincoln and others who opposed the expansion of slavery into new states then being admitted to the Union.  The Democratic Party is considered to be the more liberal party, and the Republican, the more conservative.  Democrats generally believe that government has an obligation to provide social and economic programs for those who need them.  Republicans put more emphasis on encouraging private enterprise in the belief that a strong private sector makes citizens less dependent on government. 18 College of Foreign Languages - UDN

19. Questions and discussions 19 College of Foreign Languages - UDN LegislativeExecutiveJudicial 1.What does it consist of? the Senate the House of Representatives 2.What are its responsibilities? 3.What powers does it have under the system of checks and balances?

20. Questions and discussions  Cloze (one word is needed in each blank) Because the Constitution of the United States granted the …………. government so much power, as compared with the earlier Articles of Confederation, several states demanded a list of …………. to guarantee …………. rights against intrusion by the federal government. The first …….. amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, embody libertarian ideas in the United States. The amendments protect such rights as …………. of speech (First Amendment), right against unlawful search and seizure (Fourth Amendment), and the right to a …………. criminal trial by jury (Sixth Amendment).  Why did the American Constitution divide the national government into three branches? What are they and their duties?  American Constitution is famous for its Bill of Rights. What do you understand about this?  How do Americans exercise their rights in terms of politics? What are the main differences between the two largest political parties in the U.S.? 20 College of Foreign Languages - UDN