USA

Question 1

Describe the separation of powers

Answer 1

There are 3 branches of the US Government:
•	Legislative
•	Executive
•	Judicial 
Each branch limits the powers of others.

Question 2

Describe legislative

Answer 2

The legislative branch is made up of the senate and house of representatives known as the congress. They are responsible for making laws.

Question 3

Describe executive

Answer 3

The executive branch is responsible for running the country. This includes President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Question 4

Describe judicial

Answer 4

The judicial branch is in charge of the legal system. This includes the supreme court.

Question 5

Describe the senate

Answer 5

The senate is made up of 100 senators (2 from each state).

Question 6

Describe the house of representatives

Answer 6

The House of Representatives is made up of 465 congressmen/women.

Question 7

Describe the constitution

Answer 7

The US Constitution is the highest law in the land.

The first 3 words of the constitution is “We The People” in big bold letters.

It protects people’s rights.

Gives them freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. (Religion is not political).

It gives them the right to bear arms. (Also not political).

The first 10 amendments of the constitution are called “The Bill of Rights”

Question 8

Describe federalism

Answer 8

The US is a Federal State. This means that there are different layers of the Government.
In the US, the are 50 State Governments and 1 Federal Government. They both have different powers:
Federal Powers
State Powers

Question 9

Describe the federal government

Answer 9

The Federal Government is headed by the President

They are in charge of the military

They decide on Foreign Policy

They can declare war

They are in charge of currency, postal services, FBI, and CIA.

Question 10

Describe the state government

Answer 10

They are in charge of police, schools, and laws e.g. The Death Penalty and Marriage Laws.

Question 11

Describe the president

Answer 11

The President is responsible for the day-to-day running of the USA.
They are in charge of the armed forces as Commander-in-Chief.
They represent the USA to the World.
The President is often known as the most powerful person in the World.

Question 12

Describe rights in the Constitution

Answer 12

The Constitution has been amended many times.

The first 10 amendments of The Constitutions are known as The Bill of Rights. These are some of the rights that American citizens have.

Question 13

Describe the bill of rights

Answer 13

On September 17, 1787, 39 of the 55 delegates signed the new document, with many of those who refused to sign objecting to the lack of a bill of rights. At least one delegate refused to sign because the Constitution codified and protected slavery and the slave trade.

A total of 27 states still carry out the death penalty, for example, California, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Question 14

Describe the rights of voting

Answer 14

One right American citizens have is the right to vote. This means that U.S. citizens cannot be abridged on account of race, colour, previous condition of servitude, sex, or age (18 and older) as specifically stated in the 15th, 19th, and 26th amendment. For example, in November 2016, Americans turned out to vote. Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote; however Hilary Clinton won the popular vote by over 1 million votes.

Question 15

Describe the responsibilities of voting

Answer 15

The responsibility to vote is to exercise their votes by voting in federal elections and serving on juries. By voting, citizens are participating in the democratic process. Citizens vote for leaders to represent them and their ideas, and the leaders support the citizens’ interests. For example, 66.8% of citizens voted in 2020 presidential election where Joe Biden was elected as President.

Question 16

Describe the rights of bearing arms

Answer 16

Another right is that America citizens have the right to bear arms (own a gun). This means that people have the right to possess weapons (arms) for the preservation of life, liberty, and property. For example, in America, you can buy a gun in a supermarket like Walmart. However the expectation is that citizens use their guns responsibly for sport, self defence and not for committing crimes.

Question 17

Describe the responsibilities of bearing arms

Answer 17

The responsibility is to not break the law using the gun. This means to only use the gun when it is necessary for self defence and not to endanger fellow citizens or the community. For example, not to carry out an attack like the Columbine High School Shooting in 1999 and the Las Vegas Shooting in 2017.

Question 18

Describe the requirements of the president

Answer 18

In order to be president you must:
• Be at least 35 years old
• Be born in the USA
• Have been living in the USA for the last 14 years
• Have a 2nd in command (vice president)

Question 19

Describe the powers of the president

Answer 19

The president:
Is the chief law maker. This means that they come up with ideas for the Congress to discuss.

Is Head of the State and Head of the Government

Can pass emergency laws (Executive Orders)

Is a World Statesmen

Is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

Question 20

Describe the electoral college

Answer 20

Each state is given a certain number of electors.

This is equal to the number of Senators (always 2 per state) and the number of Representatives (based on the population). So the bigger the state, the more electors they have. For example, California has 55 electors whereas Wyoming only has 3 electors.

The winner must have an absolute majority of electors to win the Presidential Election. 270 electoral college votes at least.
Candidates tend to focus on States with a higher population.

Voters vote for a particular person and the candidate with the most votes wins all the electors in the state.

Question 21

Describe measuring participation

Answer 21

Participation is measured by voters turnout. This is the percentage of eligible voters who participated in the election. For example, in the 2021 Presidential election, there was a total voter turnout of 66.8%.

Question 22

What are some reasons for the lack of participation

Answer 22

Some reasons why citizens don’t participate in USA Politics are due to -
• Not being registered to vote
• Ethnic minorities feeling underrepresented, they have lost faith in the system
• Language barriers
• It is extremely expensive to run a campaign to be elected
• Illegal immigrants cannot vote

Question 23

What are the social factors of lack of participation

Answer 23

Discrimination
Language & Culture
Education
Crime

Question 24

What are the economic factors of lack of participation

Answer 24

Poverty

Unemployment

Question 25

What are the political factors of lack of participation

Answer 25

Role Models
Low Voter Registration
Losing Faith in Politics

Question 26

Describe voters registration and lack of participation

Answer 26

One reason Americans don’t vote is because of voters registration. American citizens need to register to vote in elections, this is their responsibility not the Governments, unlike in the UK. There is a long and complicated form that they need to fill out. This mainly affects Hispanics as they are most likely to have language barriers.

Question 27

Describe elections and lack of participation

Answer 27

One reason why Americans don’t vote depends on which elections are being held. Americans are much more likely to vote in presidential elections than mid-term elections. This is probably because they think that presidential elections are more important. For example, more than 47% of Americans of all races vote in mid- term elections in 2018.

Question 28

Describe education and lack of participation

Answer 28

The higher level of education you have is a factor in turnout in the USA. People who attend Universities such as Harvard are much more likely to vote. In 2016, 30% of Post Grads voted in America compared to the 20% of High School Dropouts. High school dropouts are more likely to live in deprived area such as the Bronx in New York or the Compton in LA. They are also more likely to be of ethnic minorities.

Question 29

Describe voters turnout

Answer 29

In general, voter turnout is lower for ethnic minorities, particularly blacks and Hispanics, than it is for whites. Those who turnout to vote are more likely to be 
• Wealthier 
• More Educated 
• White 
• Female to an extent

Question 30

Describe under-representation in US Politics

Answer 30

Under-representation means that certain groups are less likely to be elected. For example, 13% of America’s population is Black. That should mean 13% of Senate is Black. This is not the case. 13% of Supreme Court should be black. This is also not the case.

Question 31

Describe the under-representation of blacks in US Politics

Answer 31

One of the reasons why Blacks are under-represented in US Politics is due to voters discrimination and the fact that Blacks are more likely to be poorer and less likely to go to university for their education/further education, therefore making them less likely to go into politics. Due to this there is lower black turnout but in recent years the number of blacks in politics are increasing because there have been more role-models e.g. Barak Obama (First African American President) and now Kamala Harris (First Female and Black Vice President).

Question 32

Describe the under-representation of women in US Politics

Answer 32

Women make up just over a quarter of all members of the 117th Congress – the highest percentage in U.S. history. One of the main reasons why women are so under-represented is due to election aversion which means that levelling the electoral playing field may not be enough to convince women to run for office. Another reason would be women just not wanting to run, perhaps because of differing political ambition or because women underestimate their qualifications. For example, California has sent more women to congress than any other state with a total of 47 in 2021.

Question 33

Describe Minorities and the Political Process

Answer 33

Historically, fewer African Americans and other minorities have turned out to vote less than white people. In recent years however, the number of African Americans and Hispanics registering, and voting has increased. In 2012, around 64% of white Americans voted and for the first time a greater percentage of African Americans voted at 66.2%. However only 48% of Hispanics and 47% of Asians voted. This may be explained by language barriers and lack of English.

Question 34

Describe Minority Representation in the US Cabinet

Answer 34

President Obama’s Cabinet was the most diverse administration is US history. Apart from President Obama, there were people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the US Cabinet. For example, Loretta Lynch (African American) was in the US Cabinet.

Question 35

Describe Minorities and the Political Process – The Supreme Court + Elsewhere

Answer 35

The US Supreme Court is comprised of nine justices. In 2016, 2 were from minority groups – Judge Clarence Thomas (African American) and Judge Sonia Sotomayor (Hispanic).

There are many people from ethnic minority groups who are city mayors including Michael Hancock of Denver, the city’s second black mayor. Overall, minorities remain under-represented in US Politics.

Question 36

Describe the American influence of military power

Answer 36

America’s got over 800 military bases worldwide with a military spending accounting for 37% of the world total military spending. As well as this America has the most nuclear weapons in the world along with a huge army. America is a country which has been involved in wars before, for example, they have been in war with Iraq (2003) and Afghanistan (2001).

Question 37

Describe the American influence of economy

Answer 37

America is the number 1 wealthiest country in the world with the third largest population of the world (325 million) making then largely self-sufficient e.g. they can feed themselves. This US is also a mayor trader and exporter of US brands which are sought after. Its economy produces around a quarter of the worlds wealth. One of the main reasons for this is its currency (dollar) which is the world currency used for most international transactions including oil contracts. For example, the US trade deficit was $80.6 billion in 2021.

Question 38

Describe participation in the USA

Answer 38

One way to participate in the USA is by voting. In America, you have to be a US Citizen over the age of 18 in order to vote. To do this you must register. US Citizens vote in Presidential elections (every 4 years) for example, in 2020, Joe Biden won the Presidential election. Citizens can also vote in elections to Senate, House of Representatives, State Governor, and City Mayor for example, In California 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was city mayor.

Another way citizens can participate in the USA is by joining a political party. There are 2 political parties in America, there are the Republican Party (mostly for rich, white, older people who aim to cut taxes for the rich) and the Democratic Party (mostly for people from ethnic minorities living in cities who aim to increase public funding for schools and Obamacare). For example in 2021 Donald Trump was the leader of the Republican Party and Jaime Harrison was elected the chair of the democratic party.

Question 39

Describe the American Dream

Answer 39

The reality is not all the same start in life and so many struggle to overcome barriers that are there from birth

Question 40

What does the American system include?

Answer 40

Health System
Education System
Judicial (Legal) System
Political System

Question 41

Describe systematic barriers

Answer 41

This is the way in which the system is run that might be a barrier to people doing well.

There is a lot of systematic racism meaning the system promotes the interests of white people. This is when the system or institutions and society works in a way that is racist

Question 42

Describe discrimination in America

Answer 42

One reason why some people experience discrimination in America is systematic racism. The American system is largely systematic racist

Question 43

Describe the inequality of gender

Answer 43

Historically, women have been viewed as inferior to men. Due to this women are often paid less than men for example white women earn 25% less than white men. This causes women to be poorer and have more money struggles than men do. For example, 13% of women live in poverty compared to 11% of men.

Question 44

Describe success in America

Answer 44

Some groups are more likely to be successful than others in the USA.

Unemployment leads to being poor and not being able to afford healthcare making them unable to work due to I’ll health. Not being able to work leads to not being able to get care so you can’t work.

Well paid unemployment leads to quality healthcare leading to being able to get back to work. This means they can pay for care and continue to work.

Question 45

Describe generational

Answer 45

Sometimes the problem can be generational meaning that some groups become trapped in a cycle of inequality while others find it easier to stay successful. For example, poverty and the rich.

Question 46

Describe American wealth

Answer 46

The USA is a capitalist country. People are encouraged to make money. 1% of the USA owns 40% of the country’s wealth (Bill Gates).

Question 47

Describe American wealth

Answer 47

In the USA, there is no universal healthcare system. Americans have to provide their own healthcare. 58% do this through their employers. Using providers such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Poor people who don’t have health cover include Blacks and Hispanics. They are more likely to die younger and not get treatment for illness.