The US political system

PPOLITICAL SYSTEM. PARTIES. LEADERSHIP

LECTURE 18

18.1.1. The US government consists of 3 branches: executive, legislative and judicial. The executive branch is headed by the president, who must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the country for at least 14 years. A president is elected indirectly by the people to a four-year term and is limited to two elected terms of office. The president's official residence and office is the White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. in Washington, DC. The President is a commander in chief of the armed forces; negotiates treaties; appoints federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet officials; and acts as head of state. In practice he drafts legislation, formulates foreign policy, conducts personal diplomacy, and leads the president's political party.

18.1.2. The members of the president's Cabinet — the Attorney General and the Secretaries of State, Treasury, Defence, Homeland Security, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Education, Energy, and Veterans Affairs — are appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate. Members of the cabinet and presidential aides serve the president and may be dismissed by him at any time.

18.1.3. The U.S. Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Powers granted to Congress under the Constitution include the power to levy taxes, borrow money, regulate interstate commerce, impeach and convict the president, declare war, discipline its own membership, and determine its rules of procedure.

The House of Representatives is chosen by the direct vote of the electorate. The number of representatives allotted to each state is based on its population. Members must be at least 25 years old, residents of the states they are elected from, and citizens of the US for at least 7 years. Members serve two-year terms, and there is no limit on the number of terms they may serve.

Each state elects two senators to the Senate. Senators must be at least 30 years old, residents of the state they are elected from, and citizens of the US for at least 9 years. They serve six-year terms. Senate is elected every two years and senators are not subject to term limits.

18.1.4. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court of the United States, which interprets the Constitution and federal legislation. The Supreme Court consists of nine justices (including a chief justice) appointed to life terms by the president with the consent of the Senate. It has appellate jurisdiction over the lower federal courts and over state courts.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-07