System of Government in the United States

The United States is a democratic republic (a representative democracy). The national government is a government of all the people and their representatives (elected officials). It is called the federal government because the nation is a federation, or association, of states.

The US Constitution gave the federal government only limited powers,
the powers stated in the Constitution. All other powers belong to the
individual states.

The Founding Fathers established three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Each branch has different functions and powers under the principle of separation of powers. There is also a system of checks and balances so that each branch has some control over the other two branches. This way, no one group can have too much power.

 

 

The legislative branch of the US Government, or the Congress, represents all of the American states. It consists of two parts: the Senate or upper House and the House of Representatives.

The Senate is composed of 100 members, two from each state who are elected for a term of six years. One-third of the Senate is elected every two years. A senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years, and live in the state he or she will represent.

The House of Representatives has representatives from each state depending on population, but every state no matter how small it is, has at least one representative in the chamber. A representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for seven years, and live in the state.

The presiding officerof the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the House. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both houses. There are 15 standing committeesin the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.

The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The main task of each house of Congress is the same – to make laws. Because the House of Representatives and the Senate differ in many ways, each chamber has organized itself to carry out its work of making laws.

Article I of the US Constitution says that each house may determine the rules of its proceedings.

In the Senate, the rules are more flexible and designed to make certain all senators have maximum freedom to express their ideas. For example, the Senate usually allows unlimited debate on proposed legislation, whereas the House limits representatives to speaking for five minutes or less during a debate.

The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The highest executive power is with the President who must be a native-born citizen, resident in the country for 14 years, at least 35 years old and a civilian.

The President of the United States is elected every four years to a four-year term of office, with no more than two full terms allowed. As is true with Senators and Representatives, the President is elected directly by the voters (through state electors). In other words, the political party with the most Senators and Representatives does not choose the President. This means that the President can be from one party, and the majority of those in the House of Representatives or Senate (or both) from another. This is not uncommon.

Thus, although one of the parties may win a majority in the midterm elections (those held every two years), the President remains President, even though his party may not have a majority in either house. Such a result could easily hurt his ability to get legislation through Congress, which must pass all laws, but this is not necessarily so. In any case, the President's policies must be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate before they can become law. In domestic as well as in foreign policy, the President can seldom count upon the automatic support of Congress, even when his own party has a majority in both the Senate and the House. Therefore, he must be able to convince Congressmen, the Representatives and Senators of his point of view. He must bargain and compromise. This is a major difference between the American system and those in which the nation's leader represents the majority party or parties, that is parliamentary systems.

Within the Executive Branch, there are thirteen executive departments. Currently these are the departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, and Education. Each department is established by law, and, as their names indicate, each is responsible for a specific area. The head of each department is appointed by the President. These appointments, however, must be approved by the Senate. None of these Secretaries, as the department heads are usually called, can also be serving in Congress or in another part of the government. Each is directly responsible to the President and only serves as long as the President wants him or her to. They can best be seen, therefore, as Presidential assistants and advisers. When they meet together, they are termed "the President's Cabinet".

The President must carry out the programmes of the Government, recommend much of the legislation to the Congress.

The President is also responsible for

• carrying out and enforcing laws made by the Congress

• nominating people for federal offices

• negotiating treaties with other nations

• conducting wars.

In addition, the President is given the power

• to pardon people convicted of crimes

• to send and receive ambassadors to and from other countries.

 

When the President receives a bill from the Congress, he must sign it, and then the bill becomes a law. However, if he disagrees with the law, he can veto it. The President can also ask the Congress to declare war. He also appoints the justices to the Supreme Court. He must do his job according to the Constitution, or he may be impeached.

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme (highest) Court, eleven Circuit Courts of Appeals, and ninety-four District Courts. This branch explains and interprets laws and makes decisions in lawsuits. It has power over the other two branches because it can declare their laws and actions unconstitutional (against the principles of the Constitution).

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It consists of nine justices: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The President appoints the justices, but the Senate must approve them. The justices are appointed for life. The Supreme Court makes sure that people obey the laws. The Supreme Court can also decide if a law is constitutional, that it is in agreement with the Constitution. The judicial branch works together with the legislative and executive branches to protect the Constitution and the rights of people.

The United States is a federal Union, and the President is the head of the Federal government which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and the state government headed by the Governor managing its local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA.

All the power in each state is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial. Each state has its own system of courts similar to that of the Federal courts.

 

Vocabulary

ambassador n посол

appointment n назначение

assemble v созывать, собирать

Associate Justice член Верховного суда США

bargain v вести переговоры, договариваться

branch n власть; executive branch исполнительная власть; judicial branch

судебная власть; legislative branch законодательная власть

Chief Justice Председатель Верховного суда США

Circuit Court of Appeals окружной апелляционный суд (федеральный суд

второй инстанции в США)

civilian n штатский; гражданское лицо

conduct war v вести войну

contradict v противоречить

convict v 1 признать виновным; 2 осудить

convince v убеждать

count (upon) v рассчитывать на (что-либо, кого-либо)

Department of Agriculture Министерство сельского хозяйства

Department of Commerce Министерство торговли

Department of Defense Министерство обороны

Department of Education Министерство образования

Department of Energy Министерство энергетики

Department of Health and Human Services Министерство здравоохранения и

социального обеспечения

Department of Housing and Urban Development Министерство жилищного

строительства и городского развития

Department of the Interior Министерство внутренних дел

Department of Justice Министерство юстиции

Department of Labor (Labor – амер. Labour – англ.) Министерство труда

Department of State Государственный департамент, Министерство иностранных дел

Department of Transportation Министерство транспорта

Department of Treasury Министерство финансов

design v 1 составлять план, схему; 2 планировать

District Court 1 федеральный районный суд (федеральный суд первой

инстанции в США); 2 местный суд (в ряде штатов США)

domestic policy n внутренняя политика

flexible adj гибкий

foreign policy n внешняя политика

for life 1 на всю жизнь, до конца жизни, до смерти; 2 пожизненно

House of Representatives Палата представителей

impeach v ставить под сомнение чью-либо репутацию, обвинять (гражданское

должностное лицо) в ненадлежащем исполнении обязанностей

lawsuit n 1 судебное дело; 2 иск

make certain v удостовериться, убедиться

manage v вести (дела)

native-born American коренной американец (не иммигрант)

negotiate a treaty with another nation заключить договор с другим

государством

nominate v 1 назначать на пост с последующим утверждением Сенатом;

2 предлагать кандидата на Сенатское утверждение

obey the law v подчиняться закону

pardon v 1 прощать; 2 помиловать, оставлять без наказания

presiding officer n председательствующий

rely (on) v полагаться, надеяться

representative democracy n представительная демократия

Senate Сенат (верхняя палата конгресса США)

senator n член Сената США

separation of powers разделение властей

Speaker n спикер, председатель палаты парламента

standing committee n постоянный комитет

state elector член коллегии выборщиков штата

Supreme Court Верховный суд (федеральный и в большинстве штатов США)

term n период, срок, время; term of office срок полномочий

treaty n договор, соглашение

 

Reading tasks

A Answer these questions.

 

1 Why is the government of the USA called federal?

2 Does all the power belong to the federal government?

3 What branches does the government of the USA consist of?

4 Who represents the legislative power in the USA?

5 What is the main task of the Congress?

6 Where is most of the work of the Congress carried out?

7 Who does the executive power belong to?

8 Who may become the President of the USA?

9 Who is the President elected by?

10 Is it easy for the President to get the legislation through the Congress?

11 What is the major difference between American system of presidency and

presidency in countries with parliamentary systems?

12 Who are Presidential assistants and advisers?

13 What is the President responsible for?

14 What is the judicial branch of the government? What is its job?

15 What power does each state have?

 

B Are the following sentences about the American government true (T) or false (F)?

1 The government of the USA is composed of three branches.

2 The executive power is vested in the Congress.

3 The Senate has members from each state depending on population.

4 The Vice-President is the presiding officer in the House of Representatives.

5 Law-making is the main task of both houses of the Congress.

6 The Cabinet is the highest executive power of the government.

7 The US President must be 40 years old.

8 The President cannot serve more than two terms.

9 The President carries out the programmes of the government.

10 The President appoints secretaries of departments who are not necessarily

approved by the Congress.

11 The judicial branch has power over the other two branches.

12 The justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Senate for a term of four years.

 

C Complete the sentences according to the text.

1 The federal government is given limited powers….

2 The three branches of the US government were established by ….

3 The principle of separation of powers means….

4 The Congress consists of….

5 In order to be a senator a person must be….

6 The number of representatives from each state in the House of Representatives

depends on….

7 The standing committees of both houses of the Congress do the work of….

8 The Congress assembles….

9 The President is elected by….

10 The President remains President, even though his party….

11 Each head of the executive department is directly responsible to….

12 When the President receives a bill from the Congress….

13 The judicial branch of the government consists of….

14 The highest court in the country is….

 

D Complete the following chart using the information from the text.

	The Legislative	The Executive	The Judicial
1. What does it consist of?	the Senate   the House of Representatives
2. What are its responsibilities?
3. What powers does it have under the system of checks and balances?

 

Language focus

A Complete the following text putting the verbs in brackets into the following forms: Present Simple, Future Simple active or passive, the infinitive.

 

In the Legislative branch, the Senate 1) _____ (represent) each of the states equally, while the House 2) _____ (represent) them according to the size of their respective populations. Each state 3) _____ (have) two senators, who 4) _____ (refer) to in the debate as “the senior senator from…” and “the junior senator from”… depending on their length of service.

The Constitution 5) _____ (assign) specific powers and responsibilities to Congress 6) _____ (enact) legislation necessary to provide for the common defense and the general welfare of the United States. It 7) _____ (give) the Senate exclusive authority 8) _____ (advise) and consent on all nominations and treaties. Most important, the Senate 9) _____ (provide) a forum where senators, elected by the people, can debate different issues and form the laws under which the nation 10) _____ (operate).

Although its purpose 11) _____ (be) not always apparent, each legislative procedure, each action, each debate 12) _____ (play) a role in the legislative process. Even the architectural and artistic features of the chamber 13) _____ (represent) various stages of development in the Senate’s two centuries of history.

With fewer rules, the Senate 14) _____ (have) a more informal atmosphere. Senators may 15) _____ (debate) a proposal for weeks or even months. In contrast, the complex rules in the House 16) _____ (require) that legislation move quickly once it 17) _____ (reach) the floor. House debates rarely 18) _____ (last) more than one day. Moreover, leaders of the House of Representatives have more power than leaders in the Senate. For example, the rules of the House 19) _____ (allow) its leaders 20) _____ (make) key decisions about legislative work without consulting other House members.

Most of the work of Congress 21) _____ (carry out) in Committees. Since the House is so large, newly elected representatives are aware of the fact that they 22) _____ (not to make) a practice of expressing their positions on the floor, where they will have only limited time 23) _____ (speak). In the Committees, however, representatives have more influence, and they have the time 24) _____ (study) and shape bills.

 

B Complete these sentences using appropriate modal verbs: can, may or must.

1 No branch in the US government _____ have two much power thanks to the system of checks and balances.

2 A senator _____ be at least 30 years old.

3 According to the Constitution each house _____ determine the rules of proceedings.

4 The leaders of the House of Representatives _____ make key decisions about legislative work without consulting other House members.

5 The President and the majority in the Congress _____ be from different parties.

6 The President’s policies _____ be approved by the Congress before they _____ become law.

7 The President _____ be able to convince Congressmen of his point of view.

8 The head of each executive department _____ be approved by the Senate.

9 If the President disagrees with the bill and doesn’t sign it, he _____ veto it.

10 The President _____ do his job according to the Constitution or he _____ be impeached.

11 The judicial branch _____ declare the laws unconstitutional.

 

Vocabulary tasks

A Match these terms with their definitions.

 

	power	a	to try to reach an agreement by formal discussion
	to appoint	b	to officially agree to a plan, request, etc.
	branch	c	political control of a country or an area
	bill	d	to say that something that somebody else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true
	to vote	e	to choose somebody for a job or position of responsibility
	to approve	f	part of a government that deals with one particular aspect of its work
	to enforce	g	to show formally which person you want to win an election
	to negotiate	h	a written suggestion for a new law
	to contradict	i	to make sure that people obey a particular law or rule

 

B Below are the titles of some executive departments. Link these titles with the corresponding descriptions of the work of each department.

	The Department of State	a	protects and develops the nation’s natural resources, and manages the national parks, checks on the safety of mines, etc.
	The Treasury Department	b	helps develop domestic commerce as well as trade with other countries, particularly in the mining, manufacturing and transportation industries
	The Department of Defense	c	helps provide adequate housing, particularly for low-income groups, and to foster large-scale urban renewal programmes
	The Department of Justice	d	administers many of the nation’s social services programmes on a federal level
	The Department of the Interior	e	administers and coordinates more than 150 federal aid-to-education programmes
	The Department of Agriculture	f	advises the President on foreign relations
	The Department of Labor	g	acts for the government in legal matters
	The Department of Commerce	h	manages government finances, collects taxes, mints coins and prints paper money
	The Department of Health and Human Services	i	aids food production and looks after the interests of farmers
	The Department of Education	j	is responsible for the nation’s security
	The Department of Housing and Urban Development	k	is concerned with the working conditions, safety and welfare of the nation’s nonfarm workers; enforces the laws on minimum wages and maximum hours for workers

C Complete the following text with the words from the box using them in the appropriate form.

constitution federal law structure government to govern voter to vote to be elected (2) national responsibility to be appointed to name violation to be removed from office

 

 

 

,

The United States is a 1) ________ union of 50 states, with District of Columbia as the seat of the 2) ___________ government. The Constitution outlines 3) ________ of the national government and specifies its powers and activities. The other government activities are the 4) _____________ of the individual states, which have their own 5) ________ and 6) ________. Within each state there are counties, townships, cities and villages, each of which has its own elective 7) ________.

All government in the United States is "of, by and for the people". Members of Congress, the President, state officials and those who 8) ________ counties and cities 9) ________ by popular vote. The President 10) ________ the heads of federal departments while judges are either 11) ________ directly by the people or 12) ________ by elected officials. 13) ________ mark unsigned ballots in private booths, so that no one else can find out for whom a citizen 14) ________. Public officials may 15) ________ for failing to perform their duties properly, as well as for serious 16) ________ of law.

 

Over to you

Discuss these questions.

1 What elements of the democratic structure can you observe in the system of American government?

2 List some similarities and differences between the US system of government and that of your own country.

3 Comment on the following quotations:

a) “The very idea of the power and the right of the People to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government”. (George Washington)

b) “Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility”. (Peter Ducker)