The Structure of the US Government Flashcards
What are the three branches of the US federal government?
- The Executive (the president)
- The Legislature (the US Congress)
- The Judiciary (the US Supreme Court)
What is a federal system?
A two-layered system, federal and state.
The federal government deals with national issues (e.g. defence, foreign policy etc.)
Each state also has its own state government. State governments focus on state issues (e.g. education)
What roles are there within the state government?
Same as at the federal level:
- The Executive (the governor)
- The Legislature (the state congress)
- The Judiciary (the state supreme court)
What is the Constitution?
A document which sets out how government is supposed to function and who has the power to do what
Is the president all-powerful?
No.
Both the US Congress and the Supreme Court are there to act as ‘watchdogs’ and scrutinise what he does.
Why is the US president not all powerful?
The Americans broke about from Britain because of the ‘tyrannical rule’ of the British.
They wanted to make sure the same could not happen again.
(This is partly why Americans are naturally more suspicious of government - it’s in their DNA.)
What two bodies make up the US Congress?
The House of Representatives and the Senate
How many members are there of the House of Representatives?
Today, 435
What name is use for a member of the House of Representatives?
Usually, Congressman or Congresswoman
How many members of the Senate are there?
100 (2 from each state)
What are member of the Senate called?
Senators
How often are members of the House of Representatives (often called ‘the House’) up for election?
Every two years
Why does it matter that members of the House are re-elected every two years?
It means they are often v. focused on getting re-elected - this may lead them to think in terms of short-term political gain
How often are senators up for election?
Every six years.
Although this is staggered (they are not all up for election at once).
So, in 2022, one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election.
In 2024, another one-third will be up for re-election.
In 2026, the final third will be up for re-election.
Which two parts of the government are involved in running the country?
The President and Congress (the House and Senate)
What is the role of the Supreme Court?
To make sure the laws passed by Congress and signed by the president are constitutional (i.e. do not violate the US constitution)
Who are the two main parties in US politics?
The Democrats and Republicans
In the 1920s and 1930s, what did most Republicans generally believe?
That government should stay out of people’s lives
In the 1920s and 1930s, what did most Democrats generally believe?
That government could play a positive role in people’s lives - Democrats were thus more willing to intervene if necessary
How often is a president re-elected?
Every four years
What is the maximum number of four-year terms a president can serve?
In the 1920s and 1930s, there was no legal maximum.
By convention - following the example of George Washington, America’s first president - presidents only served two terms (i.e. 8 years total).
