USA Flashcards
US Topic for Nat 5 Modern Studies
three parts of the US political system
- legislator (congress)
-executive (president)
-judicary (supreme court)
What is the job of the legislator
Write laws, scrutinise government, set taxes.
What is the job of the executive
Run the country, representthe country abroad, commander in chief of army
What is the job of the judicary
make decisions based on the consititution
example of the legilsator
The PAWS act
gives wounded veterans puppies for recovery
example of the executive
Joe Biden at COP 26
example of the judicary
In 2022, ruled that the constitution does not protect a woman’s right to an abortion
Political Rights\ways to participate in the US
- stand as a candidate
-vote
-protest
example of standing as a candidate
Joe Biden in the 2020 election
example of votes
2022 new yorkers for Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
examples of protest
BLM and women’s rights
Why are older americans more likely to participate
Understand how important democracy is
as they grew up during/after WW2
Why are more educated Americans more likely ro vote
Know how to
Why are white Americans more likely to vote
Histroically benefitted
Why are younger Americans less likely to vote
Feel ignored
politicans don’t care about school shootings
Why are less educated Americans less likley to vote
don’t understand how to
Why are Black Americans less likely to vote
Histrocially the system has restricted them
Example of Older voters v Younger Americans
In 2022, over 80% of the over 60’s voted compared to around 50% of the under 30’s
Examples of more educated American voter compared to less educated Americans
In 2022, around 70% of people with degrees voted compared to around 40% with less than a high school level of education
Example of White Voters compared to Black voters
In 2022, around 70% of white Americans voted compared to around 65% of Black Americans
Groups that are underrepresented in politics
- ethnic minorities
-women
Reasons why ethnic minorities are underrepresented
-incumbency effect
-racism
-cost of elections
ethnic minorities are more likely to be in poverty
Reasons why women are underrepresented
-incumbency effect
-sexism
-cost of elections
women are more likely to be in poverty
what is the incumbency effect
People who are in power find it easier to stay in power
example of the incumbency effect
75% of congress are male/white
example of cost of elections
$14 billion on the 2020 election
example of racism
VP Kamala Harris openly mocked for her Indian/Carribbean heritage during the 2020 election
example of sexism
never been a female president
What does the US economic influence make other countries do with examples
-change how they make things
-Scotland exports around £4.5 billion worth of goods to America
-try and attract US businesses
-90,000 jobs in Scotland are in American companies
-try and attract US tourists
-pre _covid half a billion dollars spent by American tourists in Scotland
What does the US political influence make other countries do with examples
-fight to be the first to meet a new president
-MAy with Trump and Johnson with Biden
-follow sanctions
- Sanctions on Russia after invasion of Ukraine
-restrict trade
-Netherlands restricted advanced manufacturing due to US fears of spying
What does the US militaristic influence make other countries do with examples
-show off
-Russia, China and NK annual weapons parades
-join alliances
-Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine
Spend more to compete
-US spends over $700 billion on military more than anyother country
Why is the US economically influential with examples
Large Business Community
90,000 jobs in Scotland in American Companies
Large and Wealthy Population
£500 million spent by US tourists pre COVID
Largest Economy in the world
Economy worth over $25 trillion
Why is the US politically influential with examples
Leading Democracy
Netherlands paused advanced manufacturing in china due to fears of spying
Member of Key Alliances
Sanctions on Russia
Strong Political Bonds
Johnson with Biden
why is the US militraistic influential with examples
spend most on military
$700 billion on Military
powerful military
China, Russia and North Korea annual weapon parades
most powerful member of NATO
Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia invaded ukraine
why would the US want influence (with examples)
Grow Economy
Worth over $25 trillion
World in American Interests
Netherlands paused advanced manufacturing in China due to US fears of spying
Protect it’s allies
Finland and Sweden joined NATO
Economic inequalities in the US, with examples
-Poverty
17% of Black Americans, 8% of White Americans
-Unemployemnt
6% of Black Americans, 3% of White Americans
Social Inequalities in the US, with examples
_Healthcare inequalities
-Black Americans die 6 years earlier than white Americans
average life expectancy for BA - 71
average life expectancy for WA - 77
-Educational Inequalities
27% of Black Americans have a degree, 40% of white Americans
Why are White AMericans more successful
Economically
Better Healthcare
Better Education
Socially
Less likely tin poverty
Less likely unemploted
Why are Black Americans less successful
Economically
Worse Healthcare
Worse Education
Socially
More likely in poverty
More likely unemployed
Responses to economic inequalities
SNAP
40 million each year
IRA
170,000 new jobs
Response to Social Inequalities
Head Start
1 million children each year
Affordable Care Act
14%-8% (uninusred)
response to economic inequalities have been effective
SNAP children more days in school
22% fewer absences
IRA has created more jobs
170,000 new jobs
response to social inequalities have been effective
Head Start helps people get through school
39% more likely to finish college
ACA reduced the number of uninsured people
14%-8%
response to economic inequalities have been ineffective
SNAP doesn’t address cause of poverty
40 million people every year since 2010
TANF doesn’t reach as many people as it used to
68% used to compared to 21% now
response to social inequalities have been ineffective
Head start didn’t address differences in degrees
27% of Black Americans have a degree compared tp 40% of white Americans
ACA didn’t reduce the difference in life expectancy
White Americans die on average 6 years earlier than Black AMericans
