Unravel the intricate framework of American governance and discover the bedrock principles that shape the United States with this concise yet comprehensive guide to the U.S. government. Delve into the three distinct levels of power – federal, state, and local – and understand how each contributes to the nation's complex political landscape. From the iconic White House, home to the President and the executive branch, to the halls of Congress where the House of Representatives and Senate craft legislation, explore the vital roles and responsibilities that define American democracy. Uncover the crucial function of the Supreme Court, the nation's highest judicial authority, and its power to interpret laws and ensure constitutional adherence. Explore the balance of power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Journey through the historical context of the U.S. Constitution, born from the ashes of the Revolutionary War, and learn how this foundational document continues to shape the nation's identity. Grasp the nuances of presidential elections, the role of the Electoral College, and the process of impeachment. Finally, gain insights into the enduring influence of the two-party system, dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties, and their evolving ideologies. Whether you're a student, a citizen seeking deeper understanding, or simply curious about the inner workings of the American political system, this book provides an accessible and informative overview of the U.S. government, its structure, and its enduring principles, offering a clear pathway to understanding the complexities of American democracy, the powers of the presidency, the legislative process, and the judicial system, all while exploring the historical context and the dynamics of political parties in the United States. Discover how the U.S. Constitution protects liberty and promotes the general welfare, ensuring domestic tranquility for all its citizens through its careful consideration of laws, justice, and defense. Learn about the election of the president, the powers of Congress, and the role of the Supreme Court in this guide to understanding how the United States government functions.
The U.S. Government
The United States of America are a republic ruled by three levels of government:
Federal Government:
» The President of the U.S.A. (executive branch), » the Congress (legislative branch) and » the Supreme Court (judicial branch)
» The president is not only is not only the head of the state like we know in Austria or Germany, where the president is mostly a representative person for the country and under control of the parliament, he’s responsible for the government of the state (similar to Russia). He resides in the White House, which is also his workplace. As the head of the executive branch, he is the Commander of the whole military and responsible for decisions in this area. The president is also able to put laws into action, also without the permission of the Congress.
Beneath the president, there’s the Cabinet, which is a council of ministers (high members of the government) and also the Department of Defense (controls armed forces in America, in the Pentagon), The Justice Department (“Justizministerium”) and the State Department (“Außenministerium”).
»The Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These 2 institutions are the main lawmaking section of the 3 levels of federal government. They are deciding together on the bills. If the president does not agree with the congress, a new law can also be made if ⅔ of the congress(wo)men and senators are in favour of it.
The House of Representatives has 435 members (congresswomen and –men), which are voted every two years. Each state of the U.S.A. has got at least one congress(wo)man in the House of Representatives, the number is depending on the size of the state’s population.
The Senate is made up of 100 so called Senators, elected for six years. Each state sends out two senators.
»The Supreme Court stands for the judicial branch. It’s the highest court in the whole country and is composed of nine judges, is able to vacate any judgement, not depending on the level of government and is entitled to repeal laws too.
Beneath The Supreme Court, there are the courts of appeals (11 mid-level courts) and the district courts (general courts for the citizens).
State government:
Each of the 50 states of America has got an own constitution and different laws, in the majority of cases concerning education, crime and health. There’s an own head of the state, called Governor and an own legislative branch, both of them elected by the state and an own state supreme court.
Local government:
The local government is an organization which can be found in province-, town- or city-areas. The ultimate authority of the local government is the mayor (“Bürgermeister”). In most of the states, they have only little or no power.
The Constitution of the United States of America
°“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility , provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
That’s how the Constitution of the United States of America starts.
It was written in 1787, after the Revolutionary war, to create a better organisation between the 13 states (at that time). First, they only wanted to improve the prevailing Articles of Confederation, but such a serious correction was necessary, that these articles were replaced completely.
On March 4th, 1789, the new constitution brought independence to the 13 states.
Since this time, the Constitution is the supreme law of the U.S.A. and was amended only 26 times. It’s also the oldest national constitution which is still obtaining.
The original copy can be found in the National Archives in Washington D.C.
How to elect and unseat a president
According to the Constitution, any U.S.-citizen, who was born in America, lives there for at least 14 years and is at least 35 years old has the right to become president.
The president is elected for 4 years, indirectly through an electoral college. The most popular candidate in one state gets all electors of it, who gets the majority of the electors becomes president.
It is not possible to deselect a sitting president, but the Congress is able to unseat him by impeachment, but a majority of the House of Representatives and a ⅔-majority of the Senate is necessary.
If a president dies or steps down, the vice president becomes the head of state.
The Parties
In the U.S.A., a system of two parties was formed. These Parties are called the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, the other ones are very small and are not getting to much votes or attention. There are barley new parties, politicians who think otherwise are more interested in influencing members of one of the two big parties than in founding a new one.
» The Democratic Party , emanated from the enemies of the constitution, are known under this name since 1829. They didn’t disposed as many presidents as the Republican Party (for example Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy or Bill Clinton). They are known as liberal party, progressive in social- and school-politics.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three levels of government in the U.S.A.?
The United States operates with three levels of government: Federal, State, and Local.
What does the Federal Government consist of?
The Federal Government is composed of the President (executive branch), Congress (legislative branch), and the Supreme Court (judicial branch).
What are the responsibilities of the President?
The President is the head of state, head of the government, Commander of the military, and can enact laws even without Congressional approval.
What makes up the Congress?
Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. They are responsible for making laws.
How many members are in the House of Representatives and how often are they elected?
The House of Representatives has 435 members, elected every two years. Each state has at least one representative, with the number based on the state's population.
How many Senators are there, and how long is their term?
There are 100 Senators, two from each state, elected for six-year terms.
What is the role of the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and can overturn any judgment and repeal laws.
What does the State government entail?
Each of the 50 states has its own constitution, laws (often concerning education, crime, and health), a Governor, a legislative branch, and a state supreme court.
What is the role of the Local government?
Local governments operate at the province, town, or city level, typically led by a mayor, and generally have limited power.
When was the U.S. Constitution written?
The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787 after the Revolutionary War.
When did the Constitution bring independence to the 13 states?
The new Constitution brought independence to the 13 states on March 4th, 1789.
How many times has the Constitution been amended?
The Constitution has been amended 26 times.
What are the requirements to become President of the United States?
To become President, a person must be a U.S.-born citizen, have lived in America for at least 14 years, and be at least 35 years old.
How is the President elected?
The President is elected indirectly through an electoral college. The candidate with the most votes in a state receives all of that state's electors.
Can a sitting president be removed from office?
A sitting president cannot be deselected, but Congress can impeach and unseat the President with a majority vote in the House of Representatives and a 2/3 majority in the Senate.
What happens if the President dies or steps down?
If the President dies or steps down, the Vice President becomes the head of state.
What are the two major political parties in the U.S.A.?
The two major political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
What are some general characteristics of the Democratic Party?
The Democratic Party is often described as liberal and progressive, particularly in social and school politics.
What are some general characteristics of the Republican Party?
The Republican Party is often described as conservative and stands for a better industrial economy and trade.
- Quote paper
- Martin Kainzbauer (Author), 2005, The Political System in the U.S.A., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/109347
