political system

• Political rights American citizens have

  • Vote in elections
  • Stand as candidate
  • Right to protest
  • Freedom of speech
• Vote in elections

  • American people can vote in federal, state and county/local level elections
  • For example, 67% of eligible Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election
• Stand as candidate

  • Most people will join a political party to stand in elections but they must act honestly and legally if they’re elected as representative
  • For example, in 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump both stood as candidate for the Presidential election
• The right to protest

  • If people feel strongly about an issue, they can take to the streets to get attention and show their support or disapproval for decisions made by the government. You have to act responsibly and protest in a peaceful and legal way and be respectful of other opinions.
  • For example, pro-Palestine protest took place in New York and California in November as the country continued to back Israel
• Freedom of speech

  • People can express their opinion about the government without interference or punishment. They can criticise federal, state and county/local level government.
  • For example, Biden has recently been criticised for voting against a ceasefire in Gaza. US citizens stating ‘no ceasefire, no votes’.
• How can Americans participate in politics?

  • voting
  • Campaigning for/against an issue
  • Joining a political party
  • Joining an interest group
• Voting

  One of the most obvious ways a person can participate. An opportunity for people to choose who they want to represent them in their areas. For example, in 2020, 67% of the voting eligible population voted in the presidential election.
• Campaigning for/against an issue

  Involves many ways of trying to get congress to support a cause such as sending letters, signing petitions, writing emails. They do this to influence decision makers into helping them. For example, Taylor Swift used her social media account to campaign and support Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential election.
• Joining a political party

  These are a organisation who are concerned about a wide variety of issues. They want to be successful in election so they can form government. Allows them to put forwards laws that they think would be good for the country. For example, Kamala Harris joined the Democratic Party before seeking election.
• Joining an interest group

  These are organisations that want to change policy but do not want to become the government. They focus on specific areas of concern like National Rifle Association and American Civil Liberties Union. For example, the NRA Interest group has around 5 million members.
• Who is more likely to participate in US politics

  • Retired Americans
  • More educated Americans
  • White Americans
• Retired Americans are more likely to participate

  • They understand how important it is
  • This may be because their generation, known as Boomers, grew up after WWII which was known as the fight for democracy and freedom so vetoing is importantly to them
  • Around 80% of the over 60s demographic voted in 2020 presidential election compared to around 50% of under 30s
• More educated Americans are more likely to vote

  • Know about how the voting system works and consequences of not voting
  • People who have higher levels of education may have a better understanding of what is happening in the complex US political system as well as an understanding the risks of not voting
  • Over 70% of those who have been to college voted in 2020 presidential election compared to 40% with less than a high school level of education
• White Americans are more likely to participate in politics

  • Have historically benefited from participating in politics
  • In the USA, Whites have always had the vote so it has been more traditional to vote. They are also more likely to be wealthy and so have more of an interest in voting in ways they keep taxes low and as well as keeping government spending low on healthcare and education
  • Over 70% of White Americans voted in contrast to around 66% of Black Americans in 2020 presidential election
• What system does the USA operate

  • Federal system
• How many levels does the Federal system have

  • Three
• What are the levels of the federal system

  • Top layer Federal government
  • Second layer State government
  • Third layer county/local government
• Federal Government

  • Highest level of government in the USA
  • Laws made by the Federal Government apply to everyone across America
  • Presidents works at Federal level
  • Congress is where laws are made for the Federal Government
  • Makes decisions about trade, foreign policy, armed forces, etc
• Who is congress made up of

  • Senate (100 members)
  • House of Representatives (435 members)
• State Government

  • Each of the 50 states has its own government
  • Each state has its own mini congress
  • Laws made by each state affect people in that state
  • Head of State Governemnt is called the Governor
  • Makes decisions like death penalty, driving age and use of marijuana
• What is an example of State law

  For example, the death penalty is legal in 28 states and illegal in 22 states and DC
• Local Governemnt

  • Local/county get their powers from the State Governemnt
  • Local government makes decisions to try and meet community needs
  • They make decisions about locals issues like parks and roads
  • People can elect representatives such as the Town Mayor
• What is separation of powers?

  Different functions of government are carried out by different people to limit the power of individuals
• What is checks and balances

  • Checks are what each branch of government have to stop the other branches having too much power
• What are the different branches of government

  • Legislative
  • Executive
  • Judicial
• How many different branches of Governemnt are there?

  Three
• Legislative branch

  • They make and pass laws. This is done by Senate and the House of Representatives
  • In 2022, Congress approved Joe Biden‘s nomination of Justice Jackson to be a Supreme Court Judge
• Executive Branch

  • This consists of those who are the key decision makers and the ones to carry out the laws
  • The President and his staff carry out the laws made by congress
  • For example, as the leader of the US army, Joe Biden ordered military help to be given to Ukraine following the invasion by Russia in 2022
• Judicial Branch

  • Interpret laws and decide if laws are constitutional
  • There are nine Supreme Court Judges, they are appointed by the president and hold the job for life
  • For example, the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the constitution does not protect a women’s right to abortion
• What is the legislative branch

  Congress
• What his the executive branch

  President and his cabinet
• What is the judicial branch

  Supreme Court
• What does the Federal Government have power over?

  • The armed forces
  • The US postal service
  • US currency
  • Relations with foreign countries
  • Trade across the USA
• What does the State Government have power over?

  • Use of the death penalty
  • Drug laws
  • Age people can start driving
  • Gun control laws
  • Age people can get married
• Why is politics in the US not equal?

  • Expensive to stand as candidate
  • Ethnic minorities may be underrepresented is because of the racism they may face
• One reason why representation in politics is not equal is because it is very espensive to stand as candidate

  • Candidates have a better chance of success if they have access to wealthy donors
  • For example, the two main candidates in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, spent a combined $3.5 billion
• Another reason why ethnic minority may be underrepresented is because of the racism they face

  • It is argued that ethnic minorities face discrimination from white voters who are reluctant to vote for them. The abuse ethnic minorities also face can put them off getting involved and standing as a candidate meaning fewer are likely to get elected
  • For example, during the 2024 election vice president Kamala Harris was often mocked and questioned over her Indian-Black Caribbean background
• When asked about executive powers, what are they asking

  About the powers of the president
• What are the powers of the president

  • Executive orders
  • Commander in chief
  • Power of veto
  • Power of appointment
  • Legislative Power
• One power of the president is that he has the power to introduce executive orders

  • This means that that’s the President can make their own laws without it having to go through congress
  • Since his inauguration in January 2025, Donald Trump has issued dozens of executive orders including pausing the TikTok ban and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America