USA

• Describe, in detail, (two) ways in which citizens from a world power (USA) can participate in elections

  1. Voting in elections at various levels

  2. Standing as a candidate

  3. Helping candidate during election campaign

  4. Fundraising
• Americans can vote for the candidates of their choice at local, state and Federal elections


  They have a say in who becomes their elected representatives at different levels of government
• Americans in California have voted for

  • Obama as President
  • Barbara Boxer as Senator
  • Nancy Pelosi as Representative
  • Jerry Brown as Governor
• Americans can vote for propositions such as the ones to end gay marriage in California or the one to legalise Cannabis in Colorado
• Americans can get involved in the election campaign by canvassing on behalf of their candidate

  1. Telephone people to identify supporters and encourage them to vote

  2. Put bumper stickers on their cars

  3. Donate to election campaigns to help finance advertisements on TV on behalf of the candidate
• Apart from voting, describe, in detail, the ways in which citizens from a world power (USA) can participate in politics
• Join a political party such as Democrats / Republicans


  1. Attend party meetings

  2. Help shape policy

  3. Campaign to get candidates elected

  4. In time, a member may be selected as a candidate for Mayor or the local State Assembly
• Join an Interest Group such as the National Rifle Association (NRA)

  1. Fight to keep their constitutional right to "bear arms" and oppose gun control

  2. Lobby state officials and Congressmen in an attempt to seek their support to fight further gun control measures

  3. Donate money to candidates and in return, expect them to support the NRA
• Explain, in detail, the reasons why ethnic minorities are now more likely to participate in politics
• Positive role models to inspire ethnic minorities

  • Helps to convince them that they can be successful in politics
  • Election of Barak Obama as the first black President has convinced many blacks that they can achieve the "Dream"
  • Prominent blacks like Condoleeza Rice hold important roles in government and Latinos are elected to Congress such as Bob Menendez
• There is a link between education and political involvement

  The more educated people are, the more they will engage politically
• The rise of college educated minorities as a result of Affirmative Action has coincided with the rise in numbers of blacks and Hispanics registering to vote and taking part in politics
• The rising black middle class in the suburbs are much more politically motivated that the poor, uneducated blacks in the ghetto
• Celebrity voting campaigns to encourage ethnic minorities to register to vote or to vote in elections


  • The "vote or die" campaign spearheaded by P. Diddy
• As a result of Re-districting, many minorities now find themselves in the same electoral district and so they are much more likely to get an ethnic minority candidate elected
• This policy has contributed to the increase in numbers of blacks elected to the House of Representatives
• Describe, in detail, the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a world power (USA)
• Americans have the right to vote on local, State and Federal elections


  They can have a say in deciding who is elected to represent them
• Americans have the responsibility to accept the democratic result and to vote in a considered way
• Americans have the right to join an Interest Group


  They will join with people who share the same views as they do on important issues and together they will campaign on behalf of their interests
• The NRA must respect the views of others who do not share their views about guns and make sure that they do not tell lies in their campaign literature
• Americans have the right to protest and demonstrate


  They can join together to voice their support or opposition to government measures by taking to the streets in protest
• Explain, in detail, why some citizens from a world power criticise their government for the limitations placed on their political rights
• The American Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, guarantees many freedom and rights to Americans


  Some, however, believe that the government is trying to limit their rights
• Some Americans believe that their freedom is under threat from the PATRIOT Act
• Describe, in detail, how the rights of citizens of a world power (USA) are protected by the constitution
• Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the US Constitution


  Americans have the right and the freedom to voice their concerns to politicians and the media
• Americans also have the democratic right under the constitution to protest and demonstrate


  They are free to show their opposition to government actions or proposed changes
• If Americans feel that their rights are being violated, they can take legal action all the way up to the Supreme Court
• Explain, in detail, why women and ethnic minorities are poorly represented in politics in a world power (USA)
• Traditionally women and ethnic minorities have been under-represented in the House of Representatives and the Senate


  There has frequently not been a single black Senator
• The lack of role models to inspire them is one reason why women and ethnic minorities don't put themselves forward for election
• America is very "conservative" in the "South" and "Mid –West." The electorate do not frequently vote for female candidates in these areas as the people still have very traditional beliefs about the role of women as Homemakers
• Political participation is linked to education


  The reality is that ethnic minorities such as Blacks and Hispanics tend to do less well in school and drop out
• Some American people are still prejudiced
• Describe, in detail, at least two main political institutions of the government of a world power (USA)
• The legislative branch – Congress

  1. Made up of a Senate of one hundred Senators, two from each state and a House of Representatives, numbering 435, based on population of the state

  2. The role of Congress is to pass laws, ratify foreign treaties, and scrutinise the work of the executive through Congressional Committees
• The executive branch – President

  1. The President implements laws and proposes new laws to Congress

  2. The President is Head of State, representing the USA abroad and meeting with world leaders

  3. The President can negotiate treaties with other countries, but they must be ratified by Congress

  4. The President is also Commander –In –Chief of the American armed forces and he can launch military strikes on other countries
• The judicial branch - Supreme Court


  1. The Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President

  2. It is the highest court in the land and has been responsible for some of the most important legal decisions, of which one of the most recent was to declare Obamacare constitutional

  3. The Supreme Court has ruled on important issues such as abortion and Affirmative Action
• Describe, in detail, (two) reasons why a world power (USA) attracts immigrants