9. american government

8/8/2019 9. American Government

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/9-american-government 1/12

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

A system designed to guarantee basic human rights

Parlindungan PardedeUniversitas Kristen Indonesia Jakarta

CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING



AMERICANS¶ UNDERLYING PRESUPPOSITION ON GOVERNMENT

Due to their idealism of individual freedom, Americansare suspicious that government is the natural enemy of freedom, even it is elected by the peopleThe stronger the government, the more dangerous it isto individual freedom.Thus a government¶s main duty must be to createconditions favorable for the freedom of the individualThe constitution should concern more on preventingthe government from doing evil than enabling it to dogood by dividing it into legislative, excecutive and

judicial branch.



BASIS

DIVISION

Declaration of independence,Constitution & Bill of Rights

Utah

Wyoming

FEDERAL



Th e D eclaration ofIndependence

The want, will, and hopesof the people



Declaration of independence(1776)

CONSTITUTION (1787)

ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

ALL MEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIFE,LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OFHAPPINESS

DIVIDES POWERS TO NATIONAL(FEDERAL) AND STATES GOVERNMENT.

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS DIVIDEDINTO THREE BRANCHES: LEGISLATIVE,EXCECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL. EACHBRANCH HAS CERTAIN DUTIES,SUBSTANTIAL INDEPENDENCE & SOMEAUTHORITY OVER THE OTHERSTHROUGH A SYSTEM OF CHECKS &BALANCES .

The Declaration Of Independence &the U.S. Constitution displayed atThe National Archives, Washington.



THREE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF US CONSTITUTION

y THE SEPARATION OF POWERS OFTHE THREE BRANCHES OF

GOVERNMENT;y THE PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT

OF, FOR, AND BY THE PEOPLE;y THE GUARANTEE ON BASIC

HUMAN RIGHTS.



BILL OF RIGHTSBILL OF RIGHTSB ACKGROUND: SINCE THE CONSTITUTION WRITTEN IN 1787HADN¶T YET EXPLICITLY GUARANTEED THE RIGHT OF THEINDIVIDUALS, 10 ISSUES (COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS B ILLS OFRIGHTS), WERE THEN ADDED TO IT. THE B ILLS OF RIGHTSGUARANTEES THE FOLLOWINGS:

1. F reedom of Speec h2 . F reedom of R eligion3 . F reedom of Th e Press4 . R ig h t to A ssemble in Public Places5 . R ig h t to Protest Government A ctions6 . R ig h t to D emand C h ange

7 . R ig h t to Own F irearms8 . Protection A gainst Unreasonable Searc h es,

Seizures of Property & A rrest9 . Protection A gainst Cruel & Unusual Punis h ment10. R ig h t T o a F air & Unusual Punis h ment



DIVISIONS OFDIVISIONS OFAMERICANAMERICANGOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Utah

Wyoming

LEGISLATIVE (CONGRESS )

EXCECUTIVE (PRESI DENT )

J UDICIARY (COURTS )

D UT I E SD UT I E S

LEVEL SLEVEL S

TO SERVE PEOPLE¶SNEE DS IN: POLICE, FIRE

PROTECTION,EDUCATION, PUBLICTRANSPORTATION,HOUSING, ETC.

LEGISL., EXCEC. & JUDIC.

CENTRAL COUNCIL& EXC. OFFICER

BOARD/COUNCIL& EXC. OFFICER

FEDERAL



PROFILE OF U.S. GOVERNMENT BRANCHESPROFILE OF U.S. GOVERNMENT BRANCHES

LEG IS LATIV E

(C ON GRE SS)

EXCECU TIV E

(PRE SID E NT)

J U DI C IA RY

(C O UR TS)DIVIDED INTO 2 CHAM B ERS:

100 SENATES (ELECTEDSTAGGERDLY TO A SIX-YEAR TERM & REPRENTS HIS/HER HOME STATE)435 HOUSE OF REPRE-SENTATIVEMEM B ERS (ELECTED

STAGGERDLY TO A TWO-YEAR TERM & REPRENTS HIS/HER DISTRICT)

MAIN DUTIES:TO MAKE FEDERAL LAWSTO LEVY FEDERAL TAXESTO DECLARE A WAR

TO PUT TREATIES INTO EFFECT

PERFORMANCES, A.0.:IN 1988-1990 PROPOSED 15,682

B ILLS, PROCESSED 15,000 B ILLS,ENACTED 664 B ILLS

PRESIDENT:TOGETHER WITH VICEPRESIDENT, WAS ELECTED FOR A4-YEAR TERM (MAX. 2 TERMS)DUTIES:

1. FORMULATE NATIONAL POLICY2. PROPOSE LEGISLATION TO

CONGRESS3. CHIEF COMMAND OF ARMED

FORCES4. LEAD FEDERAL AGENCIES &

DEPARTMENT5. APPOINT FEDERAL JUDGES

WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR

VICE PRESIDENT:SUCCEEDS PRESIDENT IN CASEOF DEATH OR DISA B LEDDUTIES:1. PRESIDES OVER THE SENATE

CONSISTS OF:SUPREME COURT (1 CHIEFJUSTICE & 8 ASSOCIATES)FUNCTIONING AS THE HEAD OFJUDICIAL B RANCH13 FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL95 FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS

MEM B ERSHIP IS FOR LIFEUNTILVOLUNTARILYRETIREMENT.

DUTIES: TO HANDLECASES ARISING OUT OFCONSTITUTION & FEDERALLAWSTREATIES CASESMARITIME CASESFOREIGN-LINKED CASESFEDERAL GOVERNMENTINVOLVED CASES



HOW CHECKS & BALANCES WORK IN PRACTICEHOW CHECKS & BALANCES WORK IN PRACTICE

If Congress passes a proposed law (bill) that the Presidentconsiders unwise, he can veto it. Thus, the bill is deadunless 2/3 members of the House & Senate vote to enact itdespite the President¶s veto.

If Congress passes, and the President signs, a law that ischallenged in the Federal Courts as contrary to theConstitution, 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 approveall treaties and confirm the appointments before they cango into effect.

If Congress passes a proposed law (bill) that the Presidentconsiders unwise, he can veto it. Thus, the bill is deadunless 2/3 members of the House & Senate vote to enact itdespite the President¶s veto.

If Congress passes, and the President signs, a law that ischallenged in the Federal Courts as contrary to theConstitution, 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 approveall treaties and confirm the appointments before they cango into effect.



PO L I T IC AL

P AR T I E S

POLITICALPOLITICALPARTIES &PARTIES &ELECTIONSELECTIONS

ELE CT IONS

MINO R

M A JO R

DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLICAN

EVOLVED FROM THE PARTY FORMED B Y JEFFERSONB EFORE 1800. CONSIDERED TO B E MORE LI B ERAL; WANTSGOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SOCIAL PROGRAM FOR THEPOOR, UNEMPLOYED & ELDERLY; OPPOSES NUCLEAR WEAPONS & TOO MUCH MILITARY SPENDING.

ESTA B LISHED B Y LINCOLN IN 1850S.CONSIDERED TO B E MORE CON-SERVATIVE;WANTS GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGEPRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO MAKE CITIZENSLESS DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT; SUP-PORTS MILITARY SPENDING.

GENERALLY REFERRED TO THIRD

PARTIES RARELY SUCCEED THEIR CANDIDATE TO OFFICE. THEY USUALLYCALL ATTENTION TO INTERESTINGISSUE FOR VOTERS B UT IS NEGLECTEDB Y THE MAJOR PARTIES. IF THE ISSUEHAS B EEN ADRESSED, THE MINOR

PARTIES DISAPPEAR.

HELD EVERY TWO YEARS, IN EVEN NUM B ERED YEARS, ON THE FIRSTTUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEM B ER. AMERICANS AREFREE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE THEY GET INVOLVEDIN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. SOME ACTIVELY PROMOTE A CAUSE OR ACANDIDATE, SOME OTHERS MERELY VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

9. american government

Documents