USA

Question 1

Civil war 1861-1865

Answer 1

—> Slavery in the south was not accepted by the north;
|—> Federal government Vs. Southern states;
|—> Based on socioeconomic development;
|—> The north defeated the south (1865);
VII. 13th amendment: abolishing slavery (1865);

Question 2

American exceptionalism

Answer 2

 Notion that US is unique among nations
 The first new nation: frontier mentality, pursuit of wealth
 Absence of class, religious or regime conflicts
 Internationally: mission to lead the free world

Question 3

Principles americanism

Answer 3

• Freedom (anti government, individual liberty)
• Equality of opportunity, not result
• Individualism
• Liberalism(checks on executive power)
• Democracy (of the people, by the people and for the people)
• Property rights (capitalism)
• Constitutionalism(constitution as cornerstone of democracy)

Question 4

Civil rights movement

Answer 4

 1865-1960s: continuation of discrimination, racial segregation
 1954: Brown vs board of Education, end of racial segregation in schools
 1963: I have a dream
 1965: voting rights act, Johnson administration

Question 5

Religion cleavage

Answer 5

Most important cleavage.
 Puritan pilgrims: emphasis on religious freedom
 No national church -> no anticlericalism
 Religion and democracy go hand in hand
 Until 1960s: Catholics vs protestants
 Since 1980s: new Christian right
- strong politicization of abortion, euthanasia and same sex marriages

Question 6

Presidential system

Answer 6

• President is directly elected and both head of state and government;
• Majoritarian and liberal elements (majoritarian electoral system and strong judiciary);
• Federalism;
• Separation of powers;
  |
  |—> (In)directly elected president;
  |—> Directly elected bicameral legislature;
  |—> Powerful judiciary and strong constitution;
  |—> Powerful states;
  |—> Importance of veto-powers;
  |—> Direct democracy;

Question 7

Electoral college

Answer 7

 Each states has electors equalling number of representatives and senators (+ 3 from DC)
* Total 538
 States and parties determine manner of selecting their electors
* No guarantee of election by voters
 States determine how electors are allocated
* All but Maine and Nebraska employ winner takes all
 Winner must have a majority (not plurality) of 270 votes
 Possibility of faithless electors, electors don’t vote for the candidate they pledged to vote for

Question 8

Congress: House of representatives

Answer 8

 435 members (California 53, Wyoming 1)
 2 year terms
 Introduces and passes legislation (primarily budget, taxes and revenue)

Question 9

Congress The senate

Answer 9

 100 members(each state 2, irrespective of population size)
 6 year terms, 1/3 (re)elected every 2 years
 Presided over by vice-president (deciding vote)
 Introduces and passes legislation: approves presidential appointments
 Members elected because of their standing within a state, traditionally, senators are a bit more free to diverge from party line

Question 10

Judiciary

Answer 10

 Cornerstone of American democracy
 Created to protect constitution
 Since 1803 ruling established the right of judiciary to engage in judicial review
 One chief justice and eight associates
 Serve for life, die in office often
 Independence of judiciary
- Federal court system;
- Partly codified but important tradition of common law (use of judicial presidents);
- Supreme Court: 9 justices nominated by the president and approved by the senate for
lifetime;

Question 11

Democrats

Answer 11

• Equality(of opportunity)
• Interventionists, bigger federal state
• Liberalism, political and economic
• Progressive values
• Urban and minority voters
• Social rights and environmentalism

Question 12

Republicans

Answer 12

• Conservative
• Christian values
• Small federal government
• Rural, white voters
• Free trade? Foreign affairs?

Question 13

Federalism

Answer 13

 Origins 13 colonies
 Now 50 states (+ 1 federal district and 5 overseas territories)
 States have significant powers (health, education and welfare)
 Competitive federalism
 Produces lack of standardization
 Over time, power of states has decreased
 But US remains a strongly decentralized federation

Question 14

Voorkennis

Answer 14

The U.S.A. is a unit of states that have political autonomy. This state
started as a confederation, but it became a federation.

Question 15

American revolution

Answer 15

II. American Revolution (1775-1783);
|
|—> Beginning of protests (1765);
|—> Boston Tea Party (1773);
|—> Declaration of Independence (1776);
|—> Britain grants independence (1783);

Question 16

Constitutional convention

Answer 16

III. Constitutional convention (1787);
|
|—> Articles of confederation (1781);
|—> U.S. Constitution is ratified (1788);
|—> U.S. Constitution comes into effect (1789);
|—> 10 first amendments: Bill of rights (1789-1791);

Question 17

Class cleavage

Answer 17

• Not very important because of suffrage
  before industrialisation, no unified working
  class and the so-called “American Dream”
  (equality of opportunity”);
• Increased inequalities were still registered;

Question 18

Centre-periphery cleavage

Answer 18

• Originally manifested in the civil war;
• Remains latently important (especially in con/anti-federal discourse);

Question 19

Ethnic cleavage

Answer 19

• Nation of immigrants (waves of immigration) has
  contributed to this cleavage;
• A changing demographic make-up;

Question 20

Head of state and government - president

Answer 20

• (In)directly elected for four-year term;
• Eligibility: 35 year old “natural born citizens”;
• His power has been expanded over time;
• Appoints and directs the cabinet;
• Nominates judges, ambassadors, officials;
• Commander in chief;
• Has veto-powers over legislation (can be overruled);
• Impeachment procedures (Congress);

Question 21

Local governments

Answer 21

Federalism (50 states)
|
|—> (Mostly) Symmetric federalism: same
| power for all states;
|—> Competitive federalism: competition
| between states and federal;
|
|
Produces lack of standardisation;
|
|——————————————>Overtime states’ power has decreased but remanins significant;

Question 22

Electoral system

Answer 22

• Federal elections - every 2 years;
• House of Representatives - all seats every 2 years;
• Senate - 1/3 every 2 years, with a full mandate in 6 years;
• President - every four years;
• The electoral system is the state competence;
• Vast majority: single-member districts with plurality (FPTP) vote;
• Presidential election:
• Indirect: voting for Electoral College (absolute majority of electors requires, otherwise house
  decides - possibility of “faithless electors”);
• Focus on “swing states”;
• Ticket: President and vice-president;

Question 23

Voter turnout

Answer 23

• Voter turnout is the lowest among Western democracies;
  |
  |—>Reasons: voter fatigue, winner-take-all system, registration laws,
  anti-government mentality and active voter suppression and
  gerrymandering;
• Founding fathers abhorred “factions” (consultation makes no mention of
  parties;

Question 24

Affective polarisation along party lines

Answer 24

Affective polarisation is not only to have different opinions than other party, but it also entails
some resentment for that adversary.
Causes:
* Media sites;
* Two-party system;
Consequences:
* Polarisation undermines democratic stability;
* Decline of cross-citing identities;
* Radicalisation of voters and parties;
* Shrinking common ground in private and public sphere;
* Gridlock and standstill - government can shut down;
This issue has been illustrated by the supreme court nominations (by Obama), impeachment
procedures (during Trump administration), the 2021 Capitol Attack and voting rights reforms.