Institutions, participation and representation Flashcards
Which branch of government debates and passes laws?
Congress ( Legislative)
Which branch of government is Commander in Chief of the armed forces?
The President ( Executive)
Why are ‘checks and balances’ important to the US government?
It stops one branch of government from having too much power.
Which branch of government can declare war?
Congress
(Legislative)
Why do strict voter ID laws make it harder for some people to vote?
Poorer people do not have government issued ID such as passports or driving licenses
Why do voter ID laws make it harder for Native Americans to vote?
They often use a PO.box and so don’t have a street address on their ID.
Some people in the US struggle to vote due to lack of time. How do you know this?
In 2020 in Georgia voters waited in queues of up to 11 hours. Voters in predominately black areas will wait 29% longer than in mainly white areas.
Which types of people will feel less well represented by their government in the USA?
Poor people, women and minority ethnic will feel less well represented by the US government than rich white men.
Why are women less likely to run for political office than men?
There is a lack of role models and representation to encourage them. Only 28% of congress is female, even though they make up 51% of the population.
Give 2 reasons why poorer Americans won’t feel well represented by their government?
They are less likely to have voted for them, since poorer people have lower turnout. 48% of congress are worth over $1 million so poor people won’t feel congress understands their issues and problems.
Why are younger people increasingly voting?
Charities like Rock the Vote encourage them to register to vote and then vote by using adverts with famous musicians and sportspeople from the NFL.
At 28%, the US congress has the highest level of females in it. Why might more women be standing for political office?
Inspired by role models such as Hilary Clinton who was the 1st female Presidential candidate or by current vice-president Kamala Harris
What evidence is there to support the view that white people are more likely to vote than minority ethnic?
In 2020 over 70% of eligible white voters used their vote but only 58% of eligible minority ethnic citizens used theirs.
Why does being rich give you an advantage when running as a candidate?
You can put money into your campaign to pay for adverts on TV and radio and billboards. You can take time off work, you will have wealthy friends who can donate to your campaign.
Why do some US citizens approve of their system of government?
They approve that power is split between 3 branches, using checks and balances to avoid one branch having too much power. They approve that power is split on 3 levels, so that each state can pass their own laws on specific issues.
