The Structure of the US Government

Question 1

What are the three branches of the US federal government?

Answer 1

1. The Executive (the president)
2. The Legislature (the US Congress)
3. The Judiciary (the US Supreme Court)

Question 2

What is a federal system?

Answer 2

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)

Question 3

What roles are there within the state government?

Answer 3

Same as at the federal level:

1. The Executive (the governor)
2. The Legislature (the state congress)
3. The Judiciary (the state supreme court)

Question 4

What is the Constitution?

Answer 4

A document which sets out how government is supposed to function and who has the power to do what

Question 5

Is the president all-powerful?

Answer 5

No.

Both the US Congress and the Supreme Court are there to act as ‘watchdogs’ and scrutinise what he does.

Question 6

Why is the US president not all powerful?

Answer 6

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.)

Question 7

What two bodies make up the US Congress?

Answer 7

The House of Representatives and the Senate

Question 8

How many members are there of the House of Representatives?

Answer 8

Today, 435

Question 9

What name is use for a member of the House of Representatives?

Answer 9

Usually, Congressman or Congresswoman

Question 10

How many members of the Senate are there?

Answer 10

100 (2 from each state)

Question 11

What are member of the Senate called?

Answer 11

Senators

Question 12

How often are members of the House of Representatives (often called ‘the House’) up for election?

Answer 12

Every two years

Question 13

Why does it matter that members of the House are re-elected every two years?

Answer 13

It means they are often v. focused on getting re-elected - this may lead them to think in terms of short-term political gain

Question 14

How often are senators up for election?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Which two parts of the government are involved in running the country?

Answer 15

The President and Congress (the House and Senate)

Question 16

What is the role of the Supreme Court?

Answer 16

To make sure the laws passed by Congress and signed by the president are constitutional (i.e. do not violate the US constitution)

Question 17

Who are the two main parties in US politics?

Answer 17

The Democrats and Republicans

Question 18

In the 1920s and 1930s, what did most Republicans generally believe?

Answer 18

That government should stay out of people’s lives

Question 19

In the 1920s and 1930s, what did most Democrats generally believe?

Answer 19

That government could play a positive role in people’s lives - Democrats were thus more willing to intervene if necessary

Question 20

How often is a president re-elected?

Answer 20

Every four years

Question 21

What is the maximum number of four-year terms a president can serve?

Answer 21

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).