美國政府-government

1、The United States of AmericaThe United States of America CONTENTSUS Constitution1Federal System & Government 2Political Parties3Election4Foreign Policy51. US Constitutionv Constitutionbasic instrument law, drawn up in 1787, came into effect in 1789.v Two characters: separation of powers, check a

2、nd balances; specified exactly what power the central government had and which power was reserved for the states. 2. Federal System & GovernmentThe Federal GovernmentThe Executive BranchThe Legislative BranchThe Judicial Branch 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.42.1 The Federal Government v The Federal Governmentth

3、e central government.v Three equal and separate branches： The Executive branch The Legislative branch The Judicial branchv They are checked and balanced by one another.System of U. S. Government2.2 The executive branch Departments & White HouseFunctions of The President Qualifications of The Pre

4、sident President and Scandal2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 .1 Departments & White Housev The executive branch consists of 14 departments and many independent agencies； v Cabinet is formed by department headssecretaries； source of advice and assistance to the presidentv President is chief of the execu

5、tive. first citizen his wifeFirst Lady2.2.1 Departments & White HouseOfficial presidential residenceThe president works and lives here and the offices of most of his staffs are also located there, such as White House Staff, National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), etc

6、. The White House at Christmas night2.2.2 Functions of The Presidentv As Chief Executive, he is given the authority or duty: to command the armed forces and grant pardons; to make appointments to certain offices; to conclude treaties; to send and receive diplomatic and consular officials; to inform

7、Congress on the “state of the Union”; to recommend legislation, approve or veto bills passed by Congress, and ensure the execution of laws. 2.2.2 Functions of The Presidentv The presidents limits: major appointments with approval of the Senate; veto overridden by Congress with two-thirds consent of

8、the Senators; all appropriations legislated by Congress; can be impeached by Congress if abusing power or committing crimes; no power to dismiss Congress; his policy can be vetoed and abolished by The Supreme Court.2.2.3 Qualifications of The President v Natural-born American citizen of and over 35

9、years-old;v Being resident within the US for at least 14 years; v Serve one or two successive terms of four years. Franklin D. Rooseveltthe only president who served more than two successive terms. After World War II, Congress adopted an amendment limiting a president to two successive terms only.2.

10、2.4 President and ScandalWatergate ScandalThe Watergate scandal occurred in 1972.It remains one of the top presidential scandals of modern time.2.2.4 President and Scandaln To defeat his adversary, Nixon hired five burglars to set up wiretaps to get confidential information in the Democratic Nationa

11、l Committee offices;n It was exposed and became the biggest political scandal in the history of America;n Because of the pressure of public, Nixon was impeached and resigned in 1974.Listen to the Audio: Watergate2.3 The Legislative BranchThe SenateThe House of Representatives The Function of Congres

12、sCongress..42.3.1 Congress Law-making and the supreme legislative body； Two houses: the Senate the House of Representatives The Capitol is no longer opened to the public after the terror event on Sept. 11th, 2001.Capitol2.3.2 The Senate v 100 voting members, two from each state;v Th

13、ey may be reelected for an unlimited number of six-year terms, chosen by a direct election; v Qualifications for being a senator: over 30 years old; a US citizen for at least 9 years; resident in the state from which he is elected.2.3.3 The House of Representativesv State legislature divides each st

14、ate into congressional districts, each district electing one Representative; v Qualifications for being a representative: at least 25 years old; a US citizen for no less than 7 years; serve for a term of two years.2.3.4 The Function of Congressv Function of Congresspassing laws for the Union;v Eithe

15、r house may introduce legislation on any subject except the revenue bills which must originate in the House of Representatives. v The constitution is generous in its grant of powers to Congress;v Among these powers are： the power to “spend and tax in order to provide for the common defense and gener

16、al welfare of the United States”; the power to borrow money; the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states; 2.3.4 The Function of Congress the power to declare war, raise and support armies, and provide and maintain a navy; the power to establish post offices and post roads; t

17、he power to set up the federal courts under the Supreme Court; the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution”. 2.3.4 The Function of Congress2.4 The Judicial Branchv The judicial branch consists of a series of courts: the Supreme Court the courts of appe

18、als12 the district courts94v The Supreme Courthighest court;Jury Systemv In most criminal justice systems and some civil cases, panels are initially selected at random from the adult population of the district. A person who is serving on (is a member of) a jury is known as a juror.v The number of ju

19、rors is usually twelve, though smaller cases may require only six. Some alternate jurors are nominated to follow the trial when jurors do not complete the trial for health or other reasons (but they do not take part in deciding the verdict).v The role of the jury is the “finder of fact”, while the J

20、udge has the sole responsibility of interpreting the appropriate law and instructing the jury accordingly. v Occasionally, a jury may find the defendant not guilty even though he violated the law if the jury thinks that the law is invalid or unjust.Jury System3. Political PartiesSymbols of the parti

21、esThe Democratic PartyThe Republican PartyFunction of Parties3.1 3.23.3 3.4 3.1 Symbols of the parties Donkey & ElephantIn 1847, American artist Thomas Nest drew a political picture with a donkey representing the Democratic Party and an elephant representing the Republican Party. The Democratic

22、Party and the Republican PartyFrom then on, they became the symbol of the two parties. 3.2 The Democratic Partyv The Democratic Partyliberal;v Governmentplaying an important role in the economy and emphasizing full employment; v Favor civil rights laws, a strong social security system and less restr

23、ictive abortion laws, etc.;v More disposed to search out a method of living with Russia and China and to look for reduction in arms spending.3.3 The Republican Partyv The Republican Partyconservative;v Favor an economic systemgiving enterprises a greater freedom and demand the government to control

24、inflation; v Stress the need for law and order; v Oppose complete governmental social programs and free choice of abortion;v Favor a strong military posture and assertive stands in international relations.3.4 Function of Partiesv To nominate candidates for office and help them in their election camp

25、aigns. find the most suitable candidates; help candidates to collect the money needed, mobilize the party activists or hire people to help them with the propaganda; urge the public to vote for them and undermine the rivals by exposing their personal flaws or attacking their policies. 4. Electionv Th

26、ere are many kinds of elections in the United States. When an American votes in November in the presidential election each leap year, he is voting in several other elections as well; He also votes for a Representative or a Senator; At regular intervals he votes to choose the governor of his state, t

27、he mayor of his city and the holders of several local public offices. Presidential Electionv Only the candidates nominated by the two major parties have the chance to win a Presidential election; v The election process is complex; v The Presidential election (four stages): The first stage: the major

28、 parties hold conventions to choose candidates for President and Vice-President and to determine the partys platform. Listen to the audio: American youth supports Democratic Party Presidential Election The second stage is the campaigning stage. By early fall the presidential race is on. From that ti

29、me until the election day, voters are bombarded from all sidesby radio, television, newspapers, and personal communications with political material. There are whistle stop tours by train, by plane, and by car. The candidate delivers countless speeches and shakes countless hands. This is a very impor

30、tant stage in the general election. Presidential Election The third stage is the time for voters to choose the list of presidential electors for the state. The number of electors of each state is equal to that of its senators and representatives in Congress. There are altogether 538 presidential ele

31、ctors, 535 from the states and 3 from the District of Columbia (without seats in Congress). Presidential Electionv All the candidates of Presidential electors are party nominees. People will vote their party candidate for the presidency. As a result, a voter is actually choosing a President when he casts his vote for an elector.v “Winner-take-all” principle If the candidat