The American The American Political SystemPolitical System

BackgroundBackground

►The Declaration of Independence 1776The Declaration of Independence 1776►The War of Independence 1776-1783The War of Independence 1776-1783►The American Constitution 1789The American Constitution 1789►Federal government and state govmts.Federal government and state govmts.►Division of powerDivision of power►Checks and balancesChecks and balances

State and Federal SystemState and Federal System► Historically state and local government came first.Historically state and local government came first.► The states have their own legislative, executive and judicial The states have their own legislative, executive and judicial

institutionsinstitutions► State and local government control important areas like: State and local government control important areas like:

HighwaysHighways State income taxState income tax Public schools and universitiesPublic schools and universities Police and fire departmentsPolice and fire departments Regulate business and supervise commercial affairsRegulate business and supervise commercial affairs

► The Federal system of government controls: The Federal system of government controls: Foreign policy, defense and monetary policyForeign policy, defense and monetary policy Areas that cannot be regulated locally and statewise: interstate Areas that cannot be regulated locally and statewise: interstate

commerce, interstate crime, interstate environmental problems commerce, interstate crime, interstate environmental problems etc.etc.

The Legislative Branch: The Legislative Branch: Congress Congress Passes legislation and Passes legislation and

appropriates moneyappropriates money► The House of The House of

RepresentativesRepresentatives► 435 members –435 members –

according to the according to the size of the state size of the state

► 2-year term2-year term

► The SenateThe Senate► 100 members -two 100 members -two

from each statefrom each state► 6-year term6-year term

The Executive Branch: The The Executive Branch: The PresidencyPresidency

►4-year term - max two 4-year terms4-year term - max two 4-year terms►Protects the ConstitutionProtects the Constitution►Proposes legislationProposes legislation►Enforces the laws made by CongressEnforces the laws made by Congress►Commander in Chief of the armed Commander in Chief of the armed

forcesforces►Appoints judges to Supreme Court Appoints judges to Supreme Court

(with the consent of the Senate)(with the consent of the Senate)

The Executive Branch: The The Executive Branch: The CabinetCabinet

►No mention of it in the ConstitutionNo mention of it in the Constitution►Subordinate to the PresidentSubordinate to the President►Cabinet members recruited broadly, Cabinet members recruited broadly,

not necessarily party insidersnot necessarily party insiders

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

►9 members9 members►Life term appointmentLife term appointment► Interprets and guards the ConstitutionInterprets and guards the Constitution► Interprets the lawInterprets the law►Decisions of the Supreme Court are Decisions of the Supreme Court are

finalfinal► In general it plays a conservative role, In general it plays a conservative role,

maintaining legal traditionmaintaining legal tradition

Checks and BalancesChecks and BalancesCongress:Power of the purseCan override presidential veto(2/3 majority)Power of impeachmentSenate approves treaties and the president’s appointments

Supreme Court:Power to declare laws and presidential actionsunconstitutional

The President:Power to vetoIssues executive ordersCommander-in-chiefAppoints Federal JudgesGrants Pardons for offenses against the US

Elections and Political PartiesElections and Political Parties

►Winner-take-all-election systemWinner-take-all-election system►The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College►Two party system- both appealing to the Two party system- both appealing to the

middle of the political spectrummiddle of the political spectrum►Balancing the ticket (President and Vice Balancing the ticket (President and Vice

president)president)►Voting patterns: splitting the ticketVoting patterns: splitting the ticket►Voting for individuals rather than party Voting for individuals rather than party

slateslate

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

► Representatives of the people in presidential Representatives of the people in presidential electionselections

► 534 electors, corresponding to the numbers 534 electors, corresponding to the numbers of Representatives and Senatorsof Representatives and Senators

► 270 electoral votes guarantee the Presidency270 electoral votes guarantee the Presidency► Each state votes as a single block (minus Each state votes as a single block (minus

Nebraska and Maine) winner takes allNebraska and Maine) winner takes all► Importance of Importance of Swing Swing StatesStates and the big and the big

statesstates

Democrats and RepublicansDemocrats and RepublicansAnd Their VotersAnd Their Voters

► Democrats Democrats supported by supported by majority of black majority of black voters (Clinton 83%) voters (Clinton 83%)

► Urban ethnicsUrban ethnics► Blue collar workersBlue collar workers► CatholicsCatholics► More women votersMore women voters► Northeast, upper Northeast, upper

midwest, northwest, midwest, northwest, HawaiiHawaii

► Protestant votersProtestant voters► Business Business

communitycommunity►White collar workersWhite collar workers► Religious Religious

fundamentalistsfundamentalists

Democrats and Republicans and Democrats and Republicans and Their PoliciesTheir Policies

►DemocratsDemocrats Support welfare Support welfare

programsprograms Keynesian economics Keynesian economics

and job creating and job creating programsprograms

Social security, Social security, Medicare and Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid

Civil Rights legislationCivil Rights legislation Women’s right to Women’s right to

abortion abortion

► RebublicansRebublicans Limiting federal Limiting federal

regulation of regulation of businessbusiness

Reduction in welfare Reduction in welfare spendingspending

Anti-abortionAnti-abortion