The political system in the USA

An introduction

Simonetta Gatto Istituto Comprensivo di Casella

(GE)

A democracy is

• a system of government in which people choose their political representatives in elections

• a country that has democracy

• a way of running an organization in which everyone can share in making decisions

THE USA

IS A

DEMOCRACY

THE UK

IS A

DEMOCRACY

ITALY

IS A

DEMOCRACY

In a democracy the political power is divided like this:

• legislative branch: process of creating new laws

• executive branch: making important decisions to govern a country, executing laws

•judicial branch: the system of law courts

American ConstitutionIt was written in 1787 in Philadelphia by the Constitutional Convention.The first three articles stress the separation of the three political branches.Article IAll legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of theUnited States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

(………)Article IIThe executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States ofAmerica.  He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years (……)Article IIIThe judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supremeCourt, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to timeordain and establish. (…….)

The Political System in the USA

The Congress

• The Congress is the American Parliament. It consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Representatives and Senators vote the laws.

The Capitol

The Capitol is the headquarters of the Congress. Like the White House it is in Washington DC. It was built in 1867 in neoclassical style.

The President of the Republic

Today the President is Barack Obama. He is the first Afro-American president of the USA. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1961. He belongs to the Democratic Party. The Republican Party is the other big American political party.The president is elected every four years by the people.

The White House

• It is the official residence of the US President

• It was built between 1792 and 1800 in neoclassical style

• The official office of the President is the Oval Office

• The first president to live there was John Adams in 1800.

The U.S. President…..

• ….must be at least 35 years old.• ….must be a native American born • ….must be a US resident for 14

years

The Supreme Court

• It consists of a Chief Justice and eight Associates Justices.

• They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

• They have life tenure.

The Supreme Court Building

• It is the headquarters of the Supreme Court.

• It was built in 1935.

R E P U B LIC A N P A R T Y D E M O C R A T IC P A R T Y

A M E R IC A N P O L IT IC A L P A R T IE SD ig ita re i l t i to lo

•

It is a conservative party and is considered centre-right. Its symbol is an elephant.

It is a progressive and liberal party and is considered centre-left. Barack Obama is the 15th President of this party. Its symbol is a donkey.