1. The LEGISLATIVE branch 2. The EXECUTIVE branch 3.

The JUDICIAL branch

1.THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (CONGRESS)

Senate 100 senators (2 for each state) House of Representatives (no. according to the states population) Senators: serve a 6-year term; must be at least 30 years old Representatives: serve a 2-year term; must be at least 25 years old The House of Representatives must regulate its business more strictly than the Senate: Strict schedule Limited debate Careful selection of the bills Powers of the Congress To make laws The power of the purse ( to raise funds, to make the federal budget) To regulate foreign and interstate commerce To raise, finance and regulate military forces To declare war To establish the executive depts., agencies and bureau that compose the executive branch Powers of investigation: -To gather information on the need for future legislation -To test the effectiveness of laws already passed -To analyze and document impeachment proceedings The committee system Is a group of people assigned similar tasks and who have to address specific legislative work Examples: Armed Services, Budget, Post Office, Science, Small Businesses, Agriculture, each with its subcommittees Officers of the Congress: Senate ruled by the Vice-President House of Repr.- ruled by a Speaker

2.THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

The structure: 1) The President leader, commander in chief of the military; 2) The Vice-President Pres. of the Senate; can become President if the current one is unable to serve; 3) Departaments and executive agencies advise the President on policy issues and help implement laws or execute such policies; 4) Independent Agencies provide assistance in carrying out policy and provide special services largest branch: 3 mil. people - THE PRESIDENT: Head of the executive branch His powers and prerogatives are set forth in the 2nd Art. of the Constitution Can exercise some of his functions in his own right and others require the consent of the Senate and Congress as a whole Powers a) National security b) Legislative powers c) Administrative powers d) Judicial powers a) National Security - Serves as commander in chief of the Armed Forces - Can authorize the use of troops overseas without declaring war - To make treaties with other nations (w/ the approval of the Senate) - Receives the ambassadors of other nations, thereby recognizing those lands as official countries b) Legislative powers - To recommend legislation to Congress - Can propose a bill, but cant write it - A member of the Congress must submit it for him - Approves laws passed by the Congress c) Administrative powers - In accordance with Art. 2 sct. 3, he must take care that the laws be faithfully executed - Appoints the eads of the executive departments - Appoints ambassadors, supreme court justices (judges) and other officials, with the consent of the majority of the Senate d) Judicial powers - Grants pardons for federal crimes, except IMPEACHMENT The Presidents law making role - His responsibility is to approve the laws passed by the Congress - When both chambers approved a bill, it is sent to the President for approval - If the President disapproves the bill, he can VETO it:

 - the bill is sent back to the Congress; the President must explain his refusal in a detailed report. -the Congress can override a veto when 2/3 of the House of Repres. and Senate go against the Presidents decision. - the President can pocket the bill ->pocket veto -If the Congress is adjourned (in concediu), in between 24 Dec. and 4 Jan., the bill is killed. PRESIDENTIAL qualifications - The President and Vice-President are the only officials elected by the entire country - He must be at least 35 years old; a natural-born American; must have lived in USA for 15 years - He can serve 2 terms, 4 years each PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2 phase process: 1) Party conventions - held during summer; following the campaign, a candidate for presidency and vicepresidency is elected - they shouldnt be from the same state 2) Electoral college - each state has as many electors as congressmen - the electors pledge to vote for the candidate who obtained the largest nr. of votes in the state - the electors votes certified by the states are sent to the Congress, to be counted (6 Jan.) - the new President is inaugurated on 20 Jan. 3)TDepartments and executive agencies: The members are the Presidents closest advisors Will attend weekly meetings with the President The Cabinet includes the Vice-President and the heads of 15 executive Departments The 15 Depts. are appointed by the President and must be confirmed by a majority voice of the Senate

3.THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

Functions of the courts Courts decide arguments about: - The meaning of the law - How laws are applied - Whether some laws violate the Constitution (judicial review) The Supreme Court is the ultimate authority its decisions can be changed by another Supreme Court - The Supreme Court: has 3 justices (judges), appointed for life; nominated by the President, and confirmed by the Senate - Lower Courts: - US bankruptcy Courts - US Court of International Trade 3

- US Court of Appeals - US District Courts Special Courts Court in session/recess: They meet in Washington D.C. Start their activity in October, until June-July 2 week intervals: - they hear cases - they consider the cases

Types of jurisdiction 1) Original: cases affecting Ambassadors, States or public Ministers and Consuls 2) Appellate jurisdiction: if a person is dissatisfied with the decision issued by a lower court, can take his case here Civi/criminal cases: - Civil disputes between individuals or organizations - Criminal if a defendant is found innocent in a criminal proceeding, he cant be retried Steps in a trial: - Try to settle out of court - File in suit (a inainta plangerea) - Discovery - Pre-trial motions and discussion - Trial and judgment - appeals

POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE US

- not mentioned in the US Constitution, and are regulated by the laws and constitutions of the individual states; - USA has a multi-party system - Since the Civil War, there were 2 parties, with occasional inroads (patrunderi) made by third-parties - Between the 1780s 1801, there were 2 parties: 1) Federalists - Favored a strong central government - Incouraged commerce and manufacturing - Emphasized the snese of order and stability - Favored close ties with UK - Were well represented in the N-E (New England) 2) Democratic-Republicans - Favored the rights of the people - Encouraged agriculture, rural life

- Civil liberty, power to the people - Favored close ties with France - Well represented in the S and W 1) THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Origin: the Democratic Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Marison (1792) The economy issue: - Since the 1890s, they favoured farmers, laborers, labor unions (sindicate) and opposed unregulated business and finance - Favored progressive income taxes - Favored higher minimum wage and regular increases in order to assist the financially disadvantaged The social issue: - Favored religious and ethnic minorities by advocating civil liberties, social freedom, equal rights, affirmative action, fiscal responsibility - Believe that the Government should play a decisive role in alleviating poverty and social injustice - They call for affordable and quality health care - Believe that all women should have access to birth control - Support equal opportunity for all Americans regardless on their sex, age, race, sexual orientation etc - College education publicly funded, and universities should impose low tuition fees The environment: - Side with environmentalists, favor the conservation of natural resources, and strong environmental laws against pollution 2) THE REPUBLICAN PARTY Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists and modernizers Rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President They presided the American Civil War and the Reconstruction period The economy issue: - More socially conservative and economically libertarian - Support lower taxes and limited government interventions - Emphasize the role of corporate and personal decision making in creating economic prosperity - They favor free-market policies supporting business, economic liberalism and limited regulation - Oppose increases in the minimal wage as they consider that this principle increases unemployment and discourage business The social issue: - Agree that there should be a safety net to assist the financially disadvantaged, but believe that the private sector is more effective in helping the poor than the federal government - As a result, they support private charitable organizations rather than Government welfare spending 5

Oppose abortion on religious or moral grounds and the legalization for gay marriage. Displace 2 types of conservatism: 1) Western conservatives advocate little govt intervention 2) Southern conservatives less concerned with economics, and more involved with religious/moral issues

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN USA

For hundreds of years, USA agricultural , rural society Self-sufficiency, self-reliance 18th -19th century urbanization and industrialization intensified They didnt want to let national institutions interfere with their lives The Great Depression Started in 1929 in USA, then spread to Europe etc Trade declined, personal incomes dropped Cities were the most affected Causes: - Americans were saving, instead of purchasing - the big companies made the smaller ones bankrupt The New Deal (created by F.D. Roosevelt) An alignment of interest groups and voting blocs Resolutions: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insures your money in banks Federal Housing Administration home construction Rural Electrification Administration it still exists, though the whole country has electric power Resettlement Administration educating farmers to cultivate the land rotation of cultures Fair Labor Standards (1938) established a minimum wage, the 40 hour week The Veterans Act provided allowances and tuition payments to collegebound veterans 2.2 mil. Veterans went to college the others were offered loans for starting businesses or buying homes The Great Society A set of domestic programs proposed/enacted in USA Reforms that eliminated poverty and racial injustice Appeared in a time of prosperity Grave social crises confronted the nation: Racial segregation in the South Urban riots within black neighborhoods in NYC and LA Education: Elementary and secondary education for poor communities (1965) Higher Education Act: scholarships for students merit-based 6

 need-based Low-interest loans for students (dobanda mica) Welfare: $400 billion annually, headed to single mothers Taxes imposed on tobacco companies, go to welfare