Political system of the USA

There are now 50 states in the USA. Under the Constitution, the states delegated by many of their sovereign powers to the central government in Washington. But they keep many important powers for themselves. Each state, for example, retains the right to run its own public school system, to decide on the qualifications of its voters, to license its doctors and other professionals, to provide police protection for its citizens and to maintain its roads.

The form of the Government of the USA is based on the Constitution of 17 September 1787. By the Constitution the government of the nation is composed of three co-ordinate branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial.

The executive power is vested in the President, who holds office for 4 years, and is elected, together with a vice-president chosen for the same term, by electors from each state. Nowadays the President may be elected two times only. The President must be a natural-born citizen, resident in the country for 14 years, and at least 35 years old. The presidential election is held every forth year (leap year) on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The President proposes bills to Congress, enforces federal laws, serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and, with the approval of the Senate, makes treaties and appoints federal judges, ambassadors and other members of the Executive Departments. Each Cabinet head holds the title of the Secretary and together they form a council called the Cabinet.

The legislative power is vested by the Constitution in the Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Theoretically all citizens of both sexes over 21 years of age have the right to vote, but in fact this is not so because of many special requirements. The Senate consists of 2 members from each state. Chosen for 6 years, one-third retiring or seeking re-election every 2 years. The House of Representatives consists of 435 members elected every second year on the basis of population, although every state has at least one representative.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and the head of the judicial branch.

Each state has a constitution, patterned after the national Constitution. The head of each state is the governor. The governor’s term of office varies in several states from 2 till 4 years.

In the USA there are two main political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Democratic Party is the oldest of the two. Its history began back in the 1820s. The Republican Party was organized in the 1850s.

1) Why do we call America a federal union?

2) Where is the seat of the national government?

3) What body is the legislative power in the US exercised by?

4) How many chambers does it consist of? Name them.

5) What is the executive branch represented by?

6) Who can be the president of the country?

7) When is the Election Day in the USA?

8) What is the judiciary branch represented by?

9) What do you know about the Constitution of the UK?

10) Can you name the main political parties in the USA?