the government of usa

USA & the Wider World 1945-1989

• Leaving Cert History

The government of the USA

• Federal government

•The Executive

•The Legislature

•The Judiciary

The Executive

• The President

• Runs the Country

• Assisted by Ministers (Secretaries of State)

• Enforcing the laws of the nation• Acts as Commander-in-Chief of the US

Armed Forces• Conducts foreign Affairs and negotiates

treaties• Appoints government officials

• Elected by the electoral college

The President

• Harry S. Truman

• 1945-1953

Presidents since WW2

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• 1953-1961

Presidents since WW2

• John F. Kennedy

• 1961-1963

Presidents since WW2

• Lyndon B. Johnson

• 1963-1969

Presidents since WW2

• Richard M. Nixon

• 1969-1974

Presidents since WW2

• Gerald Ford

• 1974-1977

Presidents since WW2

• Jimmy Carter

• 1977-1981

Presidents since WW2

• Ronald Reagan

• 1981-1989

Presidents since WW2

The electoral college• Complicated system for electing US

President

• Voters in each state choose delegates for an Electoral College. Based on population size

• All delegates must vote for the candidate who gets a majority in their state

• Possible that President can win without having a majority.

Electoral college 2012

Legislature• Lower House – House of

Representatives

• 435 members – based on population• California 53 members – Alaska 1

member

• Elected every two years

• Main responsibility – taxation and budget

Legislature• Upper House – House of Senators

• 100 members – 2 from each state

• Elected every six years

• Main responsibility – Foreign Affairs• Any new treaties must be passed by a

2/3 majority

Law-making Process• Bill introduced and passed by both

Houses of Congress

• Signed into Law by President

• Checked by Supreme Court that it is constitutional

• President can veto bill• Congress overturn veto by 2/3

majority vote

Supreme Court• Interprets the Constitution• Checks that Federal and State laws

comply with constitution• Rulings can be changed by later ruling

or by amendment to Constitution

• Nine Judges – appointed for life• Only removed by impeachment and

convicted by Senate.

• Very Powerful

Political Parties• Republicans – pro-big-business on

economic issues and conservative on social issues. Want as little government interference as possible. Low public spending – low taxation.

• Democrats – pro-big-business on economic issues and liberal on social issues. More willing for government involvement in economic issues.

Federal V State• Rights given to States to prevent Federal

Government becoming too powerful

• Individual States control business legislation, transport, police, education. Decides on whether or not to have the death penalty.

• Shared responsibility – taxation, health care, social welfare, natural resources. FBI deals with crime in more than one state.

Tensions - Federal V State

Civil War 1861-1865 – over the rights of the Southern States

After WW2 Supreme Court declared state laws that discriminated against black Americans unconstitutional.

Eisenhower sent troops into Little Rock Arkansas to enforce Supreme Court ruling that ended segregation in education.

• Presentation prepared by:

• Dominic Haugh• St. Particks Comprehensive School• Shannon• Co. Clare

• Presentation can be used for educational purposes only – all rights remain with author