Federal government
The key components
EXECUTIVE – the part which runs the country. The President, his advisers and the
Departments
LEGISLATURE – this makes laws. The congress is made up of 2 Chambers, the SENATE
and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Members are elected directly by US citizens.
· Senate (100) – 2 senators per State, six-year terms; VP as Head of Senate
· House of Representatives (435) – state population determines number of
congressmen, two-year terms
JUDICIARY – the Courts – these interpret the law and make sure laws are constitutional
Balance and separation of powers
- Congress can impeach (控告) the President and Supreme Court Judges
- The Supreme Court or President can veto laws made in Congress
States (50 US states)
- Each state has a governor, a legislature and a supreme court
- States have control over state laws e.g. the death penalty.
- Each state has a National Guard (its own army commanded by the governor)
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
- Only been 27 amendments / additions to the US constitution
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, - Changes requires 2/3 of votes in both chambers of Congress and then be ratified by
¾ of the states
Republican (e.g. Trump)
- Pro-life (anti-abortion), pro guns, religious, socially conservative (anti LGBTQ+ rights)
Democrat (e.g. Biden)
- Pro-choice, pro-gun control, socially liberal (pro LGBTQ+ rights)
Chapter 1.2, 1.3
Why did the Red Scare develop?
Background:
● Russia became a communist country in 1917
Why was there tension between communist and capitalist countries?
● Fundamentally opposite systems of government
● Both feel that their ideas should be spread around the world
● Communists - all working class people should overthrow their capitalist governments
● Capitalists - wanted the rest of the world to be capitalist to trade with other countries
How did World War Two end?
● Germany loses and gets invaded by Britain, France and America from the West and
Russia from the East
● America uses nuclear weapons on Japan to force them to surrender (Hiroshima and
Nagasaki)
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