Usa

Question 1

State one key feature of the US political system (executive branch)

Answer 1

The president and the Cabinet make up the Executive. President represents the USA abroad and meets world leaders and passes laws, proposes laws and nominates judges to the Supreme Court.
•In 2022 Us President Joe Biden represented USA at the recent COP27 event in Egypt

Question 2

one key feature of the US political system is the Legislative Branch (congress)

Answer 2

Includes the Senate and House of Representatives and their role is to make and pass laws, ratify foreign treaties and scrutinise the work of the executive through congressional committees.
•In 2022, Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities At which implemented several changes to the mental health system and gun safety laws

Question 3

One key feature of the US political court is the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

Answer 3

It decides wether or not new laws or Presidential actions are in keeping with the constitution and it’s decisions are meant to be followed by every other court in the USA.
•In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the Roe vs Wade ruling, meaning that individual states could decide on their own abortion laws.

Question 4

One power of the President is the Power of Pardon

Answer 4

They can pardon, or forgive, somebody for a crime or excuse/suspend their sentence and let convicted criminals off for crimes.
•For example,former President Donald Trump pardoned Sheriff Joe Arpaio who was convicted of contempt of court.

Question 5

One power of the President is the power of appointment.

Answer 5

This is an important power as it allows the President to place people who support their policies in high ranking positions.
•For example,President Joe Biden appointed Anthony Blinken as US Secretary of State in 2021

Question 6

One power of the President is the Executive Order.

Answer 6

An executive order is a direct instruction from the President which bypasses Congress. This makes the president powerful because Executive Orders effectively allow the president to make ‘laws’ without congressional approval.
•For example, one of President Joe Bidens first Executive Order was to re-join the Paris Climate agreement after Donald Trump issued an executive order to leave the agreement

Question 7

Rights and responsibilities
(Right to vote)

Answer 7

Right- people who are 18yrs and over and have completed voter registration are able to vote at various levels.
Responsibility- register,turn out to vote and accept the result peacefully.
For example, in 2022 over 81milliom people voted for Joe Biden In the US presidential Election.

Question 8

Right and responsibilities
(Right to protest)

Answer 8

Right- American citizens have the right to protest about issues they would like the government to change.
Responsibility- they must protest peacefully and obey the law.
For example, BLM protesters continue to spread awareness about police brutality and discrimination against black people through public demonstrations

Question 9

Rights and Responsibilities
(Freedom of speech)

Answer 9

Right- Americans have the right to express the opinions freely.
Responsibility- They must tell the truth and be careful not offend others/incite hatred.
For example, after the 2020 US Presidential election, Donald Trump did not use his responsibility appropriately when he lied about the election being stolen and incited Capitol riots

Question 10

One way people in the USA can participate in politics is by Standing As A Candidate.

Answer 10

People in the USA have many opportunities to put themselves forward to be elected to a position of power in USA society. There are many roles such as Senator to President.
•For example, in 2022 Joe Biden put himself forward to be the president.

Question 11

One way people in the USA can participate in politics is By Protesting.

Answer 11

As a democracy, large numbers of protesters on the street express their opinion on matters that are important to them and try to convince decisions makers to change things.
•For example BLM protesters continue to take to the streets across America to make their voices heard about racial discrimination against ethnic minorities.

Question 12

One way people can participate in
American politics is by joining a Pressure Group.

Answer 12

This is a group of people who seek to influence politicians and public policy on the basis of a shared common goal
•For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is a gun interest group with almost 5million members who have successfully influenced policy concerning gun ownership In America

Question 13

One reason why some groups are more likely to participate than others is because they have More Role Models.

Answer 13

Because certain groups have numerous examples of people in elected positions who look like them, share some of their experiences, they have more confidence that their own views will be represented and will make themselves feel more successful in politics.
•For example, a 2021 report found that men (59%) are much more likely than women (41%) to run for elected office.

Question 14

One reason why some groups are more likely to participate than others is because They Are Wealthier

Answer 14

In order to run for elected office, you need to have large financial backing at your disposal in order to compete against other candidates and have a successful campaign.
•For example, Donald Trump was willing to spend up to 100million of his own money to fund his Presidential re-election campaign.

Question 15

One reason why some groups are more likely to participate that others is because they are better educated.

Answer 15

People with high educational attainment have a greater understanding of how the political system works .
•For example, in the 2020 Presidential Election, high school graduate turnout was 55.5%, while turnout for those with a bachelor’s degree was 77.9%

Question 16

One reason why some groups are less likely to participate than others is because they have Less Role Models.

Answer 16

Because certain groups have few examples of people in elected positions who look like them and share some of their experiences, they have less confidence that their own views will be represented and they may feel that they are less successful in politics.
•For example, the Office of President has only been held by one black President and has never been held by a woman, so these groups have few prominent figures to look up to.

Question 17

One reason why some groups are less likely to participate than others is because they have Lower Incomes.

Answer 17

People with low incomes often feel apathy towards politics. They struggle to connect with wealthy candidates who they feel do not represent them nor care about them.
•For example, in the 2020 Presidential Election about 65% of low-income individuals voted, compared to 88% of those in the high-income category.

Question 18

One reason why some groups are less likely to participate than others is because of Language Barriers.

Answer 18

Some people, especially Hispanic/Latino voters, may find it difficult to understand politics in an English-speaking country. They may be unsure of hoe to register to vote or how to generally engage with political debate.
•For example, in the 2020 Presidential Election, only 53.7% of eligible Hispanic/Latino citizens voted compared to 71% of white citizens.

Question 19

One reason why ethnic minorities are under-represented is because of Prejudice.

Answer 19

It is argued that ethnic minorities face discrimination and prejudice from White voters. This prejudice may be a consequence of exposure to harmful stereotypes about ethnic minorities peddled through racist media portrayals and discriminatory Government policies that have led to mass incarceration of such minority groups.
•For example, only 12% of US Senators are from an ethnic minority background despite the fact they
account for 40.7% of the US Population.

Question 20

One reason why ethnic minorities are under- represented is because of Felony Disenfranchisement.

Answer 20

This means that individuals from an ethnic minority background who have been imprisoned can have their voting rights stripped away from them in some states even on their release. This stops people from voting for candidates like themselves and even from standing as a candidate.
•For example, over 30% of African American men in the State of Alabama have had their voting rights rescinded, which might explain why they have not had an African American Congressman for 10 years.

Question 21

One reason why ethnic minorities are under-represented is because of they are less likely to participate in politics.

Answer 21

Because ethnic minorities have few
examples of people in elected positions who look like them and share some of their experiences, they feel that they will ultimately be less successful in politics.
•For example, there has only ever been one ethnic minority President and one ethnic minority vice-Presiden

Question 22

One way the USA has economic influence over other countries is that it is the World’s Reserve Currency.

Answer 22

This means that how well the USA is doing, it’s going to affect trade deals all around the world.
•For example, more than 65 countries around the world set their currency based on the US dollar.

Question 23

One way the USA has an economic influence over other countries is that many countries rely on American businesses to bring jobs.

Answer 23

This means that multi-million/billion-dollar companies set up offices and factories in other countries that give people somewhere to work. Stimulating the economy in these countries.
•For example, over 90,000 jobs in Scotland are based in American companies, while Donald Trump had built two golf courses in Scotland, creating jobs and tourism.

Question 24

One way the USA has an economic influence on other countries is that many Americans travel to other countries and boost their tourism industry.

Answer 24

This means that’s Americans travel to other countries to soak up their culture and visit famous landmarks, where they spend their money on local products and services which boosts the economy by creating jobs and contributing to local infrastructure development.
•For example, in 2019, more than 630,00 American tourists came to visit Scotland, spending £717 million.

Question 25

The US is politically influential because it is often the leader in key alliances.

Answer 25

Almost all of the worlds major alliances such as the UN,NATO and the G7 are led by the US who often gives the most funding to these organisations, meaning many countries will pay attention to what the US wants.
•For example, many countries signed up to global deals after seeing the USA do it, such as in Glasgow at Cop26

Question 26

The US is politically influential because it is the world’s leading democracy.

Answer 26

It has helped other countries become democracies and has acted like the leader of these countries on the world stage by coordinating how they respond, such as supporting or punishing other countries around the world.
•For example, the US has co-ordinated others countries to punish Russia for the war in Ukraine even when it has hurt the economies of those countries (eg Germany)

Question 27

One way the US is militaristically influential is because it is a leading member of NATO

Answer 27

NATO is a military alliance of nations which protects Western Countries across Europe and North America through their collective defence policy.
•For example, as a leading member of NATO the US was able to pressure fellow members to issue economic sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Question 28

The US has a lot of militaristic influence because it has the most powerful military in the world.

Answer 28

This means that the US navy, army, air force and space force are so technologically advanced that other countries may be afraid to challenge the US but will also try to show off their military to get US attention.
•For example, the US has military bases and sites on almost every continent in the world, and countries like the UK, Germany and Japan all host US troops to stay in favour with the US.

Question 29

One way the US is militaristically influential is because its spending encourages other countries to spend what they can to
compete.

Answer 29

The US spends 3 times more than any other country in the world on its military every year meaning any other countries that wants to compete with the US will have to spend larger and larger amounts of its money on the military.
•For example, the US spends around $800billion on its military which is more than the next 11 biggest spenders combined.

Question 30

One reason why some people are more likely to experience economic issues is because of discrimination.

Answer 30

This means that Black Americans are often paid less due to racism in the workplace. They are more likely to experience poverty and will struggle to meet their basic needs.
•For example, in the USA, the pay gap between Black Americans and white Americans is approximately 30%

Question 31

One reason why some people are more likely to experience economic issues is due to lack of educational attainment.

Answer 31

This means that people will struggle to access highly paid jobs if they don’t have the necessary academic achievements to do so. This can lead to poverty as people with poor education are more likely to end up with low-paid jobs and they subsequently may struggle to meet their basic needs.
•For example, people who don’t graduate high school earn $30K per year whereas those who have a university degree earn an average of $100K per year

Question 32

Another reason why some people are more likely to experience economic issues is due to their legal status.

Answer 32

This means that people who come to the US without legal documentation may be exploited by business who will pay them below minimum wage due to their poor bargaining power and this can lead to poverty for these workers as earning below minimum wage may make them unable to afford their basic needs.
•For example, on average, the hourly wages of undocumented workers are 42% lower than the wages of US born workers and legal immigrants.

Question 33

One reason why some people are less likely to experience economic issues is because of inherited wealth.

Answer 33

Inherited wealth usually befalls White Americans whose families bought property in years gone by that has dramatically increased in value. These assets and capitol allow them to live a comfortable lifestyle.
•For example, White Americans families on average have savings of $171K, much higher than any other group.

Question 34

Another reason why some people are less likely to experience economic issues is due to high educational attainment.

Answer 34

This means that people will find it easier to access highly paid jobs if they do have the necessary academic achievements which will let them live a comfortable lifestyle and not experience poverty.
•For example, more than half of Asian Americans (54%) have a bachelor’s degree while they also have the highest average income of any group at over $87k per year.

Question 35

One reason why some people are more likely to experience health issues is because they live in a poor environment.

Answer 35

In poor neighbourhoods, there is a high occurrence of both serious crimes and poverty which limit the life expectancy as people are much more likely to die at a younger age from physical trauma or from illnesses caused by their environment.
•For example,in the USA, African Americans have the lowest life expectancy of 74 while they are more likely than any other group to live in a ghetto

Question 36

Another reason why some people are more likely to experience health issues is due to unemployment.

Answer 36

As access to healthcare in the US is usually secured through private health insurance or as an employment benefit and those without a job can find themselves priced out of the system and this can lead to serious health issues as they will be unable to access the appropriate support.
•For example, African Americans have the highest rate of unemployment in the USA (8.3%) where they are much less likely than White and Asian Americans to have health insurance.

Question 37

One reason why some people are more likely to experience health issues is because they live in a poor educational attainme

Answer 37

This means that people will struggle to access highly paid jobs if they don’t have the necessary academic achievements. The job insecurity, low wages, and lack of assets can lead to poor nutrition, unstable housing, and unmet medical needs.
•For example, low-income Americans adults have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other chronic disorders than wealthier Americans

Question 38

One reason why some people are less likely to experience health issues is because they live in wealthy neighbourhoods.

Answer 38

This means that people will find it easier to access highly paid jobs if they do have the necessary academic achievements to do so and makes them less likely to experience health issues and live a comfortable lifestyle where they can afford health insurance and can make healthy choices that benefit their health.
•For example, in the USA those with a bachelor’s degree on average live 3 years longer than those without a college degree.

Question 39

One reason why some people are more likely to experience inequality in education is due to the fact they
live in a poor area.

Answer 39

In poorer neighbourhoods, less money as a whole is spent on education. This means that students in these areas may be forced to learn in school buildings with poor conditions and such schools often are lacking in resources like digital technologies and materials, restricting the learning opportunities of young people who attend.
•For example, nationally, high-poverty districts spend 15.6% less per student than low-poverty districts, reducing
the educational opportunities of students in those districts.

Question 40

Another reason why some people are less likely to experience health issues is due to high educational
attainment.

Answer 40

This means that people will find it easier to access highly paid jobs if they do have the necessary academic achievements to do so. This makes them less likely to experience health issues and live a comfortable lifestyle where they can afford health insurance.
•For example, in the USA those with a bachelor’s degree on average live 3 years longer than those without a college degree.

Question 41

One reason why some people are more likely to experience inequality in education is due to the fact they live in poverty.

Answer 41

Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework, study, or engage in activities. Many impoverished families lack access to computers, high-speed internet, and other materials. They are also more likely to face health problems related to stress and a lack of sleep.
•For example, Children that live below the poverty line are 1.3 times more likely to have developmental delays or learning disabilities than those who don’t live in poverty.

Question 42

One reason why some people are more likely to experience inequality in education is due to language barriers.

Answer 42

This means that non English speakers can struggle to access the curriculum and thus risk missing out on vital learning experiences. They may not understand what is expected of them and can suffer from social isolation which can have a detrimental impact on their ability to learn.
•For example,8.4% of Americans report not being able to speak fluent English, which can seriously limit
their ability to take full advantage of educational opportunities.

Question 43

One reasons why some people are less likely to experience educational inequality is because they live in a wealthy area.

Answer 43

This is because schools in the United States are funded at a state level and wealthier state governments will earn more in taxes meaning that young people are more likely to have smaller class sizes, greater classroom resources and experience less socioeconomic issues at home, all
conditions which make it less likely for them to suffer educational inequality.
•for example Massachusetts ranks first for Educational Attainment and third for Quality of Education while it is the third wealthiest state by GDP per capita.

Question 44

One reasons why some people are less likely to experience educational inequality is because they have good health.

Answer 44

This means that those with good health are much less likely to be off school and be more present in the learning environment and will be less likely to have gaps in their learning while their learning outcomes will be improved.
•For example, Asian Americans have a high life expectancy of 84 while 61% of this group have at least an undergraduate degree.

Question 45

One reasons why some people are less likely to experience educational inequality is because they come from high income families.

Answer 45

This means that those who come from high income families will have many advantages in education and can afford additional resources like digital technologies and tutors and expensive higher education fees.
•For example Asian Americans have the highest median household income of just over $100k while they have the lowest high school drop rate of any group at just 1.8%.

Question 46

One response to economic inequality by the US Federal Government has been SNAP.

Answer 46

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme and it works by providing essential food to low income families and keep children healthier to get an education to escape poverty later in life.
•For example, 40 million Americans were helped with SNAP in 2022.

Question 47

One response to economic inequality by the US Federal Government has been TANF.

Answer 47

TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and it works by providing cash benefits to low-income families with children and someone in TANF is expected to be in some kind of work-related activities.
•For example, on average, TANF recipient families received $517 in cash assistance per month.

Question 48

One response to economic inequality by the US Federal Government has been the IRA (2022).

Answer 48

IRA stands for Inflation Reduction Act and is a post pandemic response to help rebuild the US economy and create new greener jobs for US citizens and has helped poorer Americans to find work and save money on healthcare which tackles both poverty and unemployment.
•For example, so far it has helped 15
million Americans save on average $800 a year on health insurance.

Question 49

Some would argue that SNAP is effective in addressing economic inequalities because it helps keep children in school

Answer 49

It works by providing essential food to low income families which helps to keep children healthier so that they can get an education needed to escape poverty later in life.
•For example, research shows that children on SNAP have 22% fewer schools’ days lost to illness than poor children not on SNAP.

Question 50

Some would argue that the IRA (2022) is effective in addressing economic
inequalities because it is creating jobs
and reducing costs.

Answer 50

The IRA is the Inflation Reduction Act and it works by creating new green jobs which helps to tackle unemployment, reduce the cost of healthcare and ultimately help tackle poverty.
•For example, the White House claims that 170,000 jobs have been created and 15 million Americans are saving on average $800 a year on health insurance

Question 51

Some would argue that SNAP is ineffective in addressing economic inequalities because it doesn’t do enough to prevent poverty.

Answer 51

SNAP merely addresses the
consequences of poverty rather than the causes, meaning that its users are not empowered with what they need to escape poverty.
•For example, there has been over 40 million people a year on SNAP since 2010, suggesting it is not helping people escape poverty.

Question 52

Some would argue that TANF is ineffective in addressing economic inequalities because it does not reach many people.

Answer 52

The TANF programme is supposed to help tackle economic inequalities by supporting people into work,
therefore tackling unemployment and poverty but, most low-income families don’t qualify for it, rendering it ineffective as it doesn’t help millions of families in need.
•For example, by 2021 only 21% of families get help from TANF compared to around 68% when it was introduced.

Question 53

One response to social inequality by the US Federal Government has been Head Start.

Answer 53

This is designed to help overcome
educational inequalities by giving targeted nutritional and educational support to poorer children before they start elementary school and this is to help them in the long run.
•For example, each year around 300,000 Head Start children enter kindergarten after getting support.

Question 54

One response to social inequality by the US Federal Government has been the Affordable Care
Act.

Answer 54

Sometimes known as “Obamacare”, the purpose of this act was to give
millions more people access to healthcare for the first time. It also has made healthcare cheaper for many.
•For example, the number of people without insurance has fallen by around 15 million people since ACA was introduced and this policy meant that millions were able to stay insured even during the pandemic.

Question 55

One response to social inequality by the US Federal Government has been Medicare.

Answer 55

Medicare is a federal social insurance
program and aims to provide health insurance to older and disabled people, but unlike Medicaid, Medicare
is not bound to lower incomes or a certain state of poverty.
•For example, in 2022 Medicare spending totalled $905.1bn.

Question 56

One response to social inequality by the US Federal Government has been Medicaid.

Answer 56

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover some medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.
•For example, Medicaid helps with the
medical expenses of 18.8% of the US
Population.

Question 57

One government response to social inequality that has been effective has been the Headstart programme.

Answer 57

The program is designed to support
poorer children with targeted nutritional and educational support so that they are in a better position to learn and improve their long-term
chances and is effective because it
compensates for a major cause of educational inequality; poverty.
•For example, a report in 2019 found that children who had received head start were 39% more likely to complete college showing its long-term effectiveness.

Question 58

One government response to social inequality that has been effective has been the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Answer 58

In the US healthcare can be very expensive and much harder to access if you don’t have a job but the ACA has been effective because it has helped to reduce barriers to healthcare by making access to healthcare easier and more affordable.
•For example, since 2014 the number of people uninsured in the US has fallen from around 14% to around 8% by 2021.

Question 59

One government response to social inequality that has been ineffective has been the Headstart programme.

Answer 59

The programme is designed to help lower income children access and engage with education so that they have a better future but Black Americans have lower degree
rates than White Americans, therefore, making it ineffective because it doesn’t do enough to
reduce social inequalities.
•For example, around 40% of White Americans have a degree compared to around 27% of Black Americans.

Question 60

One government response to social
inequality that has been ineffective has been the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Answer 60

The ACA was designed to help Americans get better access to healthcare, particularly low-income groups and has seen greater access for Black Americans, however, their life expectancy continues to be a lot lower than White Americans making it ineffective because it has failed to reduce the gap in life expectancy.
•For example, Black Americans are dying on average 6 years younger than White Americans.