THE POLITICS OF

THE UNITED STATES

Instructor: Nguyen Thi Tuyet
Oanh
Students:
Trinh Hoa Ha
Nguyen Thi Phuong Hang
Nguyen Nu Hieu Hanh
Nguyen Vuong Thu Hang

THE POLITICS SETTING OF THE UNITED

STATES

The
The
The United
Constitutio Separation
States
n
of Powers Congress

The
Political
Parties

The
Election
Process

The Constitution
- The government of the USA is based on US Constitution. The
Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
- Each state has it own government but there is on Federal
Government for all. The Constitution describes what the Federal
Government is allowed to do. Any powers not specified in the
Constitution are reserved for the states and people.
- The Federal Government is in charge of settling any disputes
between states. It is also in charge of the army and foreign affairs as
well as issuing currency and running a postal service. By having
these provided by one central government US citizens reduce the
amount of tax they have to pay.
- To prevent any person or group from becoming too powerful, the

The Separation of Powers

The Separation of Powers

Em thm ni dung vo phn ghi ch nha.
Legislative branch

The Separation of Powers

Executive branch
- This branch makes sure that the laws
of the United States are obeyed.
- The President is the head of the
executive branch of government.
President: Leader of the country and
commands the military.
Vice President: President of the
Senate and becomes President if the
President can no longer do the job.
Departments: Department heads
advise the President on issues and
help carry out policies.
Independent Agencies: Help carry
out policy or provide special
services.

The Separation of Powers

Judicial branch
- Article III of the Constitution
established the judicial branch
of
government
with
the
creation of the Supreme Court.
This court is the highest court
in the country and vested with
the judicial powers of the
government.
- Courts decide arguments
about the meaning of laws,
how they are applied, and

Em thm phn law + supreme court vo nh.

The Separation of Powers

Judicial branch
- The Supreme Court consists of nine Justices: the Chief
Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices and
confirmed with the 'advice and consent' of are nominated by
the President Senate - the person who presides over
theUnited States Senate
- The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.
- The court deals with matters pertaining to the federal
government, disputes between states, and interpretation of
the Constitution.

The United States Congress

- The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the
federal government of the United States consisting of two
chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- Members are usually affiliated to the Republican Party or to the
Democratic Party, and only rarely to a third party or as
independents. Congress has 535 voting members: 435
Representatives and 100 Senators.
- The members of the House of Representatives serve two-year
terms representing the people of a single constituency, known as
a "district".
- Each state, regardless of population or size, has two senators.
Currently, there are 100 senators representing the 50 states. Each
senator is elected at-large in their state for a six-year term, with

The United States Congress

- The lower chamber in the bicameral
legislature (Congress)
- Is intended to be the politically
dominant entity in the federal system
- Served as the primary forum for
political debate
- Consist of 435 members representing a
congressional district and serves for a
two-year term
- Apportioned among the states by
population
- A House constituency would represent
around 700,000 people.

The United States Congress

- are elected by first-past-the-post voting in every state more than 50% of the vote (except Louisiana and Washington
- run-offs)
- 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November
- Case of death or resignment before the end of the two-year
term, a special election is held to fill the vacancy.

The United States Congress

- The upper chamber in the bicameral
legislature
- Consists of 100 members, each of whom
represents a state and serves for a sixyear term (one third of the Senate stands
for election every two years)
- Each state has two Senators, regardless
of population.
- 50 states 100 senators.
- are elected by first-past-the-post voting
in every state (except Louisiana and
Washington, run-offs) on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November in

Em thm ni dung vo nh

The Political Parties

Em thm ni dung vo nh

The Political Parties

The Election Process

Voting
Levels of election
Features

of

the

election

system
Election President of USA in
2016

The Election Process

Voting

- The most common method used in U.S. elections is the

first-past-the-post system, where the highest polling
candidate wins the election.

The Election Process

Voting

A. Eligibility:
-

Setting out in the constitution and also regulated at state level.

For all citizens from 18 years old.

B. Voter registration:
-

All U.S. states except North Dakota require that citizens who wish
to vote be registered.

C. Absentee voting:
-

Voters unable or unwilling to vote at polling stations on Election

Day can vote via absentee ballots.

Absentee ballots are most commonly sent and received via the
United States Postal Service

The Election Process

Level of election

A. Local elections:
-

At the local level, county and city government positions are usually filled by election,
especially within the legislative branch.

Some examples of local elected positions include sheriffs at the county level and mayors
and school board members at the city level

B. State elections
-

State law and state constitutions, controlled by state legislatures regulate elections at
state level and local level.

Various officials at state level are elected. Since the separation of powers applies to
states as well as the federal government, state legislatures and the executive (the
governor) are elected separately.

The Election Process

Level of election

C. Federal elections:
1.
-.

Presidential elections:
It is an indirect election.

-.

The winner being determined by votes cast by electors of the Electoral

College.

-.

Electoral College typically promise in advance to vote for the candidates

of their party.

- The winner of the election is the candidate with at least 270

Electoral College votes.
- The runner-up in a Presidential election becomes the Vice
President.

The Election Process

Level of election

C. Federal elections:
2. Congressional elections:
Senate

elections:

The Senate has 100 members, elected for a six-year term in dual-seat
constituencies (2 from each state), with one-third being renewed every
two years. The group of the Senate seats that is up for election during a
given year is known as a "class"; the three classes are staggered so that
only one of the three groups is renewed every two years.

The Election Process

Level of election

C. Federal elections:
2. Congressional elections:
House

of Representatives elections

The House of Representatives has 435 members, elected for a two-year

term in single-seat constituencies.
House elections are first-past-the-post elections that elect a
Representative from each of 435 House districts which cover the United
States.

The Election Process

Features of the election system

A. Party systems
B. Campaign finance
C. Primaries and caucuses

The Election Process

Features of the election system

A. Party systems:

The American political system is dominated by two political parties: the

Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

In illustrations and promotional material, the Democratic Party is often

represented as a donkey, while the Republican Party is featured as an
elephant.

DONKEY vs ELEPHANT

The Election Process

Features of the election system

B. Campaign finance :

The funding of electoral campaigns has always been a controversial issue in

American politics.

As long ago as 1895, the Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Mark Hanna stated: "There are two things that are important in politics. The
first is money, and I can't remember what the second one is."

Money contributed to campaigns can be classified into "hard money" and "soft
money"

The Election Process

Features of the election system

C. Primaries and caucuses :

A primary election is an election in which registered voters in a jurisdiction

(nominating primary) select a political party's candidate for a later election.

Caucuses also nominate candidates by election, but they are very different
from primaries. Caucuses are meetings that occur at precincts and involve
discussion of each party's platform and issues such as voter turnout in
addition to voting.

The Election Process

Election President of USA in 2016

What Trump
promised to
do during his
presidency
Immigration
From day one of his Presidency Trump has vowed to begin working on an
impenetrable physical wall on the southern border, hanging the estimated bill to the
Mexicans.
Also he plans on implementing a temporary closing of the US border to all Muslims.

What Trump
promised to
do during his
presidency

Abortion
Trump has said he is not a supporters of abortion and the nations largest
abortion provider Planned Parenthood.

What Trump
promised to do
during his
presidency
Women
Trumps views on women at time disturbing, with many negative comments on
women. Therefore, a Trumps presidency is feared would be a setback for womens
rights.
Veterans
Trump promised to treat and better care of veterans.

What Trump
promised to do
during his
presidency

Policing and Race

Trump has promised to give power back to the police because of rampant crime,
despite the fact Black Lives Matter has made police brutality a cornerstone of its
campaign.

What Trump
promised to do
during his
presidency
Trade and economy
Throughout the campaign, Trump has gone to extreme lengths to emphasise his
experience in business telling the country he will Make America Great Again.
He promised to make a major tax cut, create many more jobs,
Rework the past trade deals between the US and other countries to put Americans
priorities first.

What Trump
promised to do
during his
presidency

Foreign Policy
Announced that he and Putin will get along very well. He has promised to
welcome old enemies who want to become friends and criticised the idea that
America should be the worlds policeman.

What Trump
promised to do
during his
presidency

Gay Rights
During his campaign Trump has stated marriage should be between a man and a woman
and states should not be forced to recognise same-sex couples.

THANKS FOR
YOUR ATTENTION