1. 3. The US System of Government
Learning Intentions (Pupils should be able to):
Outline the principles behind the US system of government.
Explain the role of the different parts of the US Federal Government.
Federal Government buildings: The White House (residence of the President), the Supreme Court (highest court in USA) and Congress (law making or legislative assembly).

2. The US System of Government
Federal
Principles of Government in the USA: The Separation of Powers
The US Constitution details the way in which government must operate. The writers of the US Constitution wanted power to be shared, so the Constitution states that there will be a ‘separation of powers’ between the Federal Government (whole of US) and each of the 50 State Governments. For example, the Federal Government based in Washington has power over the armed forces, foreign policy and the currency.
State Governments (e.g. Texas) have power over everything not reserved for the Federal Government including education, use of the death penalty and the age for marriage or driving.
Texas State capital building

3. The US System of Government
Principles of Government in the USA: Checks and balances
To further ensure that power was not concentrated in the hands of one group, the US Constitution writers built into the document a series of ‘checks and balances’. One example is that the Constitution cannot be changed unless:
three-quarters of the States agree
two-thirds of representatives in Washington agree
the President agrees.
In practice, the system of checks and balances means that the Federal and State Governments must work together to run the country. In the same way, the three parts of the Federal Government check and balance each other.

4. The US System of Government
The US Federal Government
There are three parts to the US Federal Government:
1. The Executive is the office of the President. The role of the President is oversee the running of the country and suggest new laws to improve the USA.
2. The Legislative is the law making part of the Federal Government. Representatives from all 50 States meet at Congress (in Washington). There are two types of representatives in Congress: Senators (pictured above right) and Congressmen/women.
3. The Judiciary is the court. The highest court in the USA is the Supreme Court to which Americans can appeal if they feel their constitutional rights have been denied. The Supreme Court also has the power to interpret laws.

5. The US System of Government
State Government
Each State has a system of government similar to the Federal Government. For example California has:
A Governor (Schwarzenegger) who runs the State and suggests new laws or spending plans
A legislative building with two law making bodies – the State Assembly and State Senate As with the Federal Government, the State Assemblymen and State Senators must agree before decisions become law. The California Legislative meets in Sacramento the State capital.
A State Supreme Court which is the highest court of appeal in California and interprets State laws.

6. The US System of Government
Questions
1. Give examples of the powers of the Federal Government and the powers of US State Government.
2. Explain what the effect of the ‘separation of powers’ and the system of ‘checks and balances’ has on the way decisions are taken in the Federal and State Governments.
3. Explain the role of each of the following branches of US Government: The Executive; The Legislative and the Judiciary.
Pulse: “International Issues” pages and/or Leckie and Leckie: ‘Course Notes’ pages 223 and 228.