How does the American government work?

HOW DOES THE AMERICAN

GOVERNMENT WORK?

Can you name all the states of America?

You have 5 minutes to name as many American states as you can!

50 States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachuse

tts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hamps

hire New Jersey

New Mexico New York North Caroli

na North Dakot

a Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvani

a Rhode Islan

d South Caroli

na South Dakot

a

Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Southern Slave states (grey)

How does the US government work? There are 2 main political parties – the

Democrats and Republicans. The presidential candidates are elected by State delegates of their parties at the National Convention.

Party politics – post WWI Woodrow Wilson was a Democrat – his

League of Nations proposal split the Party. Some believed his idealism was commendable while others believed he was giving too many concessions.

The Republicans were not invited to negotiations which angered them.

The Democrats were also split on the amendment of Prohibition (banning of alcohol)

REPUBLICANS WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN

1920 because they promised to:

1.RAISE TARIFFS2.RESTRICT IMMIGRATION

3.HELP FARMERS

Principles of American politics

1900s RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM AKA LAISSEZ FAIRE – whereby the American government had little involvement in the lives of citizens or how the economy was run.

PROGRESSIVISM was a shift in this view towards greater democracy, honest government and more effective controls over business.During Wilson’s term more progressive policies

were passed indicating the Democrat’s move away from Laissez-faire.

RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM ACTIVE

GOVERNMENT

House of Representatives

Senate

CONGRESS

Secretaries – appointed by the President

Vice-President – elected with the President

THE PRESIDENT

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHMakes the country’s laws

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHAdministers the country

THE JUDICIAL BRANCHExplains and interprets the laws and the Constitution

THE SUPREME COURT

Appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate

Elect

Electoral Voters

THE PEOPLE

Elect

Elect

NB The rules and arrangements for the Government of the USA shown here are laid down in the Constitution. This written document defines and limits the powers of the Federal Government and divides them between the Government’s three main branches – Legislative, Executive and Judicial

Congress (Parliament) House of Representatives =

Congressmen/congresswomen represent individual districts within each state

Senate = 2 representatives from each state are in the Senate

How are legal decisions made? Amendments to the constitution need to

be passed by House of Representatives and the Senate, ¾ of States must agree for it to be passed.

The Supreme Court have the final legal say over whether a proposal is deemed to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL (going against the American constitution)

The American Government

1. What is meant by a Federal system of Government? 2. What is the role of the following within the American system of Government:a) Executiveb) Legislaturec) Judiciary? 3. What is the Constitution of the USA? 4. Why can the President often find it difficult to govern effectively? 5. What were the main differences between the Democrat and Republican political parties?

End of Lesson quiz1. What is the constitution?2. How much support is needed to pass an

amendment?3. How is Congress divided?4. Who sits in the Senate?5. Who sits in the House of Representatives?6. Who are the two main political parties in

America?