1. The USA
National
Qualifications

2. Today we will… Describe the 3 branches of government in the USA.
Describe the 3 levels of government in the USA and explain the powers that each level has.
Identify what ethnic groups in the USA make most political progress.
Examine the gender and ethnic make up of the US Government and explain why some groups are underrepresented in the US Government.
Assess the extent to which political progress has been made by different groups in US politics.

3. Success Criteria
I can describe the 3 branches of government in the USA.
I can describe the 3 levels of government in the USA and explain the powers that each level has.
I can identify what ethnic groups in the USA make most political progress.
I can examine the gender and ethnic make up of the US Government and explain why some groups are underrepresented in the US Government.
I can assess the extent to which political progress has been made by different groups in US politics.

4. 3 Branches of Government
The US constitution outlines the system of government in the USA.
There are 3 branches of government.
Discuss each level of government with the pupils.

5. Government in the USA Voters Elect The Legislature The Executive
The Judiciary
Makes the country’s laws
Explains and interprets the laws and the constitution of the country
Administers the country
(runs the country)
Congress
House of Reps = 435 Representatives
Senate = 100 Senators
The President and
The Vice-President
The Supreme Court and Federal Courts Appointed by the President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Voters
Elect

6. The Government of the USA – Task 1
Match the correct heads and tails to make four accurate statements about the American Government.
HEADS
The American Government has three branches…
The Legislative Branch refers to the people who…
The Executive Branch is headed by the…
The Judicial Branch is basically the …
TAILS
…court system that operates in the US.
…of government- Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
…President of the USA, and it carries out the laws passed in Congress.
…make the laws in the US, known as the Congress (The House of Reps and the Senate)

7. The Executive Branch
The President, the Vice President and his cabinet exercise the EXECUTIVE function of government
The President and his staff are empowered to carry out the laws which are made by Congress.
The President and Vice President are elected every 4 years.
A person may only be President for 2 terms total (8 years)
Election years:
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020

8. The Executive Branch
Besides running the country on a day to day basis, it is also the President’s job to represent the USA internationally and to he makes the majority of decisions about the USA’s foreign policy and military matters.
For example, Donald Trump pulled the USA out of an international nuclear weapons deal with Iran in 2018.
Donald Trump pulls USA out of nuclear deal

9. The Legislative Branch
The LEGISLATIVE Branch contains the people who make the vast majority of laws at the Federal level in America.
These are the Senate (Senators) and the House of Representatives (Congressmen/women), collectively known as Congress.
The majority of representatives in the USA will belong to either the Democratic Party (such as Nancy Pelosi) or the Republican Party (such as Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky).
How does Congress work?

10. The Legislative Branch
Key Terminology
Bills = proposals for laws that have yet to be passed by Congress.
Acts = Bills which have been passed into law by the 2 houses of Congress.
For example, in 2018 the Congress passed a bill into law called the Natural Disasters Tax Relief Act. This law means that ordinary citizens have an extra 60 days to deal with official tax matters if a natural disaster has been declared in the area they live meaning they can focus on their personal safety first
What does Congress do?
100 Senators
Senators serve 6 year terms. Approx. 1/3rd are elected every 2 years.
435 Reps
Congressmen/women serve 2 year terms. They are elected both at the same time as the President and during “mid-terms”.

12. Judicial Branch
The JUDICIAL branch of government (The Supreme Court) determine whether a law passed is allowed by the Constitution, i.e. if it is constitutional.
The Supreme Court consists of 9 judges (commonly known as Supreme Court Justices) who are appointed by a President when a previous judge dies or retires.
President Obama appointed Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court in She is the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court. He also appointed Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court in 2010.

13. President Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court in 2017.
He controversially appointed Brett Kavanagh to the Supreme Court in 2018 following allegations that Judge Kavanagh had sexual assaulted a female when he was younger.
More than 2400 law professors from across the USA also objected to Kavanuagh’s appointment.

14. Describe, in detail, the purpose of two political institutions of the government of a world power you have studied. (6 marks)
One branch of the USA government is the legislative branch. The legislative branch makes the laws for the entire country and it is commonly referred to as the Congress. The Congress is split into two different parts; The House of Representatives, which has 435 members and the Senate which has 100 members. In 2018, the Congress passed a law called the Natural Disasters Tax Relief law to help ordinary American citizens following natural disasters.
Judicial
Executive

15. Separation of Powers/ Checks and Balances
Americans feel that is dangerous for the 3 branches of government to be concentrated in the hands of one person.
This is why each branch of government is kept separate from the others as set out in the Constitution. This is known as the separation of powers.
There are many checks and balances built into the Constitution to prevent any one group from becoming too powerful.

16. Separation of Powers/ Checks and Balances
For a bill to become law in the USA, it has to pass both Houses of Congress (House of Reps and the Senate) and be signed by the President.
Even then the Supreme Court might see it as unconstitutional (meaning the law does not match up with the basic principles of the Constitution.)
Therefore, each branch of government can act as a check on the power of the other two.

17. Congress Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Power of Appointment
PRESIDENTIAL POWER
LIMTED BY…
LIMITATION
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Congress
Only Congress can officially declare war; International Treaties must be approved by the Senate
Power of Appointment
(specifically the Senate)
The Senate must approve, by majority, of all Cabinet Apps, Supreme Court Apps & Overseas Ambassadors
Legislative Agenda
Congress and/or Supreme Court
Only Congress can actually pass laws. The Supreme Court can overturn any laws it deems unconstitutional.
Power of Veto
Congress can overturn a Presidential Veto if 2/3rds of BOTH houses vote to do so.
Executive Orders
Supreme Court/Judiciary
The Supreme Court and Federal Courts can overturn any laws they deem unconstitutional.

19. Branches of the US Government – what have you learned?
As you watch this clip, write in your jotter anything you don’t understand so you can ask the teacher once the clip is done.

20. Levels of US Government
Federal Government
State Government
City/ County Government

21. Federal Government
The Federal Government deals with matters concerning foreign affairs and the entire country.
The Federal Government is based in Washington DC. Its leader is the President (Currently Donald Trump – Republican). A President is elected every 4 years.
Part of the Federal Government is called Congress – Congress is split into the Senate (100 Senators) and the House of Representatives (435).

22. Powers of the Federal Government
The Armed Forces
The Post office
The currency of the USA (Dollar $)
Disputes between states
Foreign relations, including declaring war

23. State Governments Each of the 50 states has its own government.
The person that runs the state is called a Governor
California’s current Governor is Jerry Brown (Democratic Party).
Each state elects its own version of Congress – State Senate and State House of Representatives.
The State Government can pass laws on matters that only effect the people of that state e.g. on education, law and order, housing etc.
Kim Reynolds, Republican. Current Governor of Iowa

24. Powers of the State Governments
Local laws e.g. age you can drink alcohol, age you can drive a car etc.
Punishments e.g. the form of capital punishment used in a state e.g. firing squad.
Provision of roads, schools and local taxes.

25. City/County Governments
Although each of the states has its own government, these states still have a lot of people in them or cover a large area.
The states are divided into smaller areas called counties (a bit like our councils).
The leader of the city/ county government is the Mayor e.g. L.A’s mayor is Eric Garcetti (Democratic Party).

26. Explain, in detail, why one political institution or group has dominance over decision-making in a world power you have studied. (8 marks)
In the USA, the President (part of the Executive branch) has many powers that allow him to dominate the Congress such the power to veto. The President has the power to veto any bills put forward by the Congress by refusing to sign them. The President may decide to veto a bill if he believes the proposed law is not in the best interests of the American people. For example, in 2015, President Obama vetoed a bill which would have allowed a brand new pipeline to be built across many northern states.
Powers of the President
Checks and balances
State governments/ Separation of Powers

27. Starter Task
Match the correct % to the correct grouping to show the ethnic make-up of the US population.
White
13.3%
African American
Hispanic
1.3%
5.9%
Asian/Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander (API)
17.8%
Native American
61.3%

28. Representation at
Federal Level

29. TASK - Fact file – Presidents by race/ethnic group and gender to 2016/ ethnic/ gender make up of congress 2014/2014/2016/2018
In the post on the blog you are going to see a fact file on the number of American Presidents that there have been and the number of minority groups in the US Congress in 2012, after the mid terms in 2014, following the 2016 election and the 2018 mid-terms.
Copy the tables into your jotter.
With your shoulder partner, discuss any of the statistics that stand out for you and write these in your jotter (Pay particular attention to the differences in the make up of Congress between 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.)

30. 2016 US Government Facts: US Presidents
White 44
Hispanic
Black 1
Asian
Native American
Men 45
Women

31. Minorities in Congress (2012)
House of (435) Representatives
Senate
(100)
Total
Hispanic 27 3
30 (5.6%)
Black 42 1
43 (8%)
API 6 2
8 (1.5%)
Native American
0 (0%)
Women 75 16
91 (17%)
Men
360 84
444 (83%)

32. Minorities in Congress 2014 (After the mid terms)
House of (435) Representatives
Senate
(100)
Total
Hispanic 33 4
37 (6.9%)
Black 43 2
45 (8.4%)
Asian 12 1
13 (2.4%)
Native American
0 (0%)
Women 83 20
103 (19.2%)
Men
352 80
432 (80.7%)

33. Minorities in Congress following the 2016 election
House of (435) Representatives
Senate
(100)
Total
Hispanic 35 4
39 (7.3%)
Black 46
50 (9.3%)
Asian 12 3
15 (2.8%)
Native American 2
2 (0.4%)
Women 84 21
105 (19.6%)
Men
351 79
430 (80.4%)

34. 116th Congress (2019-2021) is the most diverse Congress ever
House of (435) Representatives
Senate
(100)
Total
Hispanic 44 4
48 (9%)
Black 56 3
59 (11%)
Asian 15
18 (3.4%)
Native American
4 (0.7%)
Women
102 25
127 (24%)
Men
333 75
408 (76%)

35. 116th Congress (2019-2021) will be the most diverse Congress ever
In total, almost half of the newly elected Congressional representatives are not white men.
Among the most notable changes, given the recent cultural shifts in the wake of the #MeToo movement and the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, is the addition of 35 female lawmakers.
This brings the total number of women in the 116th Congress to a record 127, up from 107 in the 115th Congress.

36. Here's a quick breakdown of how Congress is set to change on religious, gender and racial lines in 2019:
13 of the newly elected female representatives are non-white.
LGBT breakthroughs include Democrat members-elect Sharice Davids (D.-Kan.), the first LGBT Kansan elected to Congress, and Kyrsten Sinema (D.-Ariz.), the first openly bisexual person ever elected to the U.S. Senate.
The first Muslim women were elected to the House: Ilhan Omar (D.-Minn.), a Somali-American, and Rashida Tlaib (D.-Mich.), a Palestinian-American.
Two Native American women were elected to the House: Deb Haaland (D.-N.M.) and Sharice Davids (D.-Kan.).
Ayanna Pressley (D.-Mass.) is the first black woman elected to Congress in Massachusetts.
Sylvia Garcia (D.-Tex.) is the first Latina to represent Texas in the House.

37. Those changes come almost entirely from Democrats;
Republican members-elect are all white men except for one woman.

39. REPRESENTATION
In the USA, Blacks and Hispanics have never been properly represented in Congress in proportion to their numbers in population. However, the situation has started to improve.

40. Task
On the next few slides there is information regarding the representation of different ethnic groups in the US Congress.
For each slide, make up a spider diagram containing information from the slides.
Once you have completed this your teacher will give you 3 minutes in your groups to discuss your spider diagrams.

41. African-Americans in Congress
Collectively called the Black Caucus
Very influential
Special interests as a group – look out for rights of African Americans
Currently all Democrats
Examples - Karen Bass, Bobby L Rush, Marcia L. Fudge  

42. African-Americans in Congress
Despite the strength of the Black Caucus, Blacks are still under-represented in Congress.
African-Americans are 13% of the population
There has been one African American President – Barack Obama

43. Hispanics in Congress Hispanics make up 17% of the population
Hispanics are still under-represented in Congress
Examples – Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Juan Vargas
Hispanics are participating much more in politics than in previous years

44. Asians in Congress Asians make up 5.9% of the population
Asians are still under-represented in Congress with Examples – Judy Chu, Grace Meng, Mark Takano
Asians are participating much more in politics than in previous years

45. Native Americans in Congress
There are currently only 4 Native American Congressmen and NO Native American SENATORS.
Markwayne Mullin – Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma)

46. Political Progress?
Although the number of ethnics in the US Government has increased over the years, there is not equality in participation in relation to the population e.g. Blacks make up 13% of the US population yet only 9.3% of Congress. Hispanics make up 17% of the US population but only 7% of Congress. Asians make up 5.9% of the US population and 2.8% of the Congress.

47. Take the heading: Political Progress of Ethnic Minorities
ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE USA HAVE MADE POLITICAL PROGRESS
ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE USA HAVE NOT MADE MUCH POLITICAL PROGRESS
Copy and complete the table by putting the following information into the correct column of the table.

48. Many ethnic minorities cannot vote because they cannot fill in the complicated registration forms.
Many Hispanics cannot register to vote or stand as candidates because they are illegal immigrants.
The growing African American middle class participate in voting and show great support for the Democratic party.
Asian Americans believe participation through voting has helped many of them achieve the American Dream.
Many ethnic minorities now see voting as a waste of time as participation has not helped them get out of the poverty trap.
More role models- Barack Obama was elected in Number of African Americans elected to Congress is on the increase.
Hispanics do not have as many role models in important political positions as Blacks do – e.g.. Obama.
As Blacks and Hispanics are under-represented in the richest group of Americans, they may find it very difficult to get the financial backing required to run a national election campaign.

49. Give three reasons as to why ethnic minorities are under represented
LESSON STARTER
Give three reasons as to why ethnic minorities are under represented

50. Why are minorities under-represented?
Traditionally, ethnic minorities were less likely to join political parties or stand for election. Partly, this was due to discrimination and prejudice: white voters were reluctant to vote for minority candidates and political parties were reluctant to put forward candidates in areas with a large majority of white voters.

51. Why are minorities under-represented?
2. Candidates in US elections also have to raise enormous sums of money to fight elections. Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in poverty, meaning that they have more important priorities – such as finding a job – than thinking about becoming involved in politics, let alone set about trying to raise funds for an election campaign.

52. Why are minorities under-represented?
3. Lack of role models have also been seen in the past as an obstacle to progress – with few significant role models to look up to for inspiration, many minority voters felt the system was white, middle class and middle aged and would deliver nothing for them. Many simply felt their vote would make no difference. There has only ever been 1 black President – Barack Obama.

53. Why are minorities under-represented?
4. Language barrier/poorer education than white majority. Many citizens from ethnic minority backgrounds find it difficult to participate as English is not their first language; the voter registration process is notoriously difficult in the USA. Furthermore, linking to the fact that ethnic minority citizens are more likely to be poor, they are also more likely to have a poorer educational background than many white people, again making registering and voting difficult.

54. Post-it Brainstorming or Say-Write-Stick
Academic Task: Create a list facts about representation in politics and whether progress has been made.
Social Task: Contributing to the best of your ability
Each member of the team will get some post-it notes.
As you answer the question, you will say what you are going to write, write it down and plunk it in the middle of the table.( one answer per post-it.) Continue until your thoughts are exhausted.
You do not need to take turns-just go with the natural flow of ideas being presented.
QUESTION: Have ethnic minorities AND women made progress in politics?

55. Trump’s Angry America
Watch “Trump’s Angry America” and take notes on the issues that exist for:
White Americans
Ethnic Minority Americans
The problems that exist between White and Ethnic Minority Americans.
Trump's Angry America

56. Structured Sort Divide all the post-its evenly around the group.
Academic Task : Sort your data set
Social task: Expressing your opinion
Divide all the post-its evenly around the group.
Number 1 will start by choosing one post-it and placing it on the sheet explaining where and why that skill might fit in the category. Other members will see if any of their post-its “fit” with that one and give an explanation. .
The categories are PROGRESS/ NO PROGRESS

57. Women in
US Politics
Janet A. Napolitano, Kathleen Sebelius, Sally Jewell

58. Women in US Politics
The Nineteenth Amendment to the American Constitution was passed in The amendment prohibited the denial of voting rights based upon an individual’s gender - women in the United States could now vote on the same basis as men. However, by 1979 women made up less than five per cent of the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and only about ten per cent of state legislative offices in the USA.
A recent report from the Congressional Research Service has found that despite the fact that women make up over 50% of the population of the United States, their presence in congress has never been over 18%. The table on the next slide shows that, in fact, women are under represented in every area of government in the USA.

59. Women in US Politics Office % Women Senators 25%
Members of the House of Representatives
23.4%
State Governors
18%
Source: Women & Politics Institute, American University; and Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University.

60. Worldwide Rankings of Women
in National Parliaments
Rank
Country
Percent Women % 1
Rwanda
56.3 2
Andorra
53.6 3
Sweden
45.0 20
Nepal
33.2 91
USA
16.9
International Average
19.3
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
“Women in National Parliaments,” August 2011.

61. Task
With your shoulder partner, write down 3 important points/ issues from the 2 tables.
What do the statistics show you?

62. Progress for Women
Not everything is negative. There has been some progress for women. In recent years, women have reached high office in the USA:
Condoleezza Rice was President George W. Bush’s Secretary of State– one of the highest offices in the country and the person responsible for leading US foreign policy.
Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives

63. Progress for Women
Hillary Clinton ran for the Democratic candidacy for the Presidency in 2008 and was only narrowly defeated by Barack Obama. After Obama was elected she was appointed US Secretary of State, serving in office from She was the Democratic candidate in 2016.
Sarah Palin was the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 election and a leading figure in the ‘Tea Party’ movement, which advocates low taxes and strict interpretations of the constitution.

64. Women in Federal Politics
The 113th Congress ( ) saw 20 women elected as Senators and 81 as members of the House of Representatives, the most ever in U.S. history…until the most recent Congress (Check back to your tables!)
These women include Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin), and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), who are all the first female Senators from their states. Baldwin is the first openly gay Senator, and Hirono is the first Asian-American woman in the Senate.

65. Task
Using the tables that you have just copied down, describe the progress of women in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
Your answer should include evidence that explains the progress of women since 2001 and also explains how much more progress they may still have to make.

66. Why are women under-represented?
Women are not unelectable and many are popular candidates and held in high regard in opinion polls.
Hillary Clinton had the highest ratings of any member of the first Obama Administration of
She also received more actual votes in the 2016 Presidential election than Donald Trump, the winner.

67. Why are women under-represented?
When it came to elected office, however, the picture was different. 84 per cent of the members of the 112th Congress ( ) were men. So why are women so under-represented?
Women simply do not run for office. Many women are reluctant to stand for election and do not put themselves forward as candidates as they lack the confidence to do so.
One other reason may be that women are still responsible for most childcare and household tasks so have little/no time to participate.

68. Why are women under-represented?
3. Women also tend to view political activities more negatively than men. More than 50% of women see politics as male dominated and believe that the media more negatively treats women. About two-thirds of potential female candidates believe that Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were subjected to sexist media coverage in the 2008 presidential campaigns e.g. covering their appearance instead of policies.
Women are much less likely to be given encouragement to run for office from family members etc. Where women are given encouragement to run for office, 72% consider doing so. Where women do not receive encouragement, 78% say they would not consider running for office.

69. Why are women under-represented?
5. In many parts of the U.S.A – particularly the Mid West ‘Bible Belt’, there is the assumption that a woman should be a wife, mother and homemaker rather than being politically active and working for a living.
Most single parents are women, trying to combine family life with a political career can be too difficult to achieve.
Women are ‘poorer’ than men – average earnings are less (despite being better educated!). Running a political campaign to get elected costs money – richer people (more likely to be men) are better able to afford to try and become elected.

70. Research
If time permits, your teacher will take you to ICT to do some research on politics in the USA.
See what you can find out about:
Women politicians
Ethnic politicians
Political parties in the USA
Please book an ICT room and allow your pupils to carry out some further research on US politics.

71. Question:
Many groups are under-represented in politics.
Describe, in detail, two reasons why one of the following groups are under-represented in politics in a world power you have studied.
Women
Ethnic Minorities
(6 Marks)

72. Explain the point (This is the case because….)
Remember to PEE
When answering the question you must PEE
Make the Point (Women are under-represented because….)
Explain the point (This is the case because….)
Provide relevant Examples (An example of this is…..)

73. Was I successful?
I can describe the 3 branches of government in the USA.
I can describe the 3 levels of government in the USA and explain the powers that each level has.
I can identify what ethnic groups in the USA make most political progress.
I can examine the gender and ethnic make up of the US Government and explain why some groups are underrepresented in the US Government.
I can assess the extent to which political progress has been made by different groups in US politics.

74. The US Government and Representation