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THE POLITICAL SYSTEM USA
The USA is a federal republic. It is a federal union of 50 states based on a presidential

system of government (the President exercises the functions of Head of State and Head of
Government). The states make their own laws on many issues, but the President and
the Congress make laws on issues of national interest, such as defence and finance.
THE US GOVERNMENT
The government is divided into three separate groups: the federal government, the state
government and the local government. The federal government, based in Washington DC,
is concerned with issues affecting the country as a whole. It is divided into three branches:
the executive branch, headed by the President,
the legislative branch, a bicameral Congress made up of the Senate (with 100 Senators)
and the House of Representatives (with 435 members), directly elected by popular vote;
the judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court.
The powers of each branch are separate: the executive and the legislative cannot hold office
in both branches. Each branch serves as a check on the actions of the other.
Other governmental activities are the responsibility of the individual states. Each state has its
own government with a governor at its head and its own constitution and laws.
THE PRESIDENT
The President of the USA is the chief executive of the federal government and is elected by
the people. Elections take place every four years and each President can serve a maximum
of two terms. The President is the most powerful and important officeholder in the country.
His chief duty is to make sure laws are executed correctly. He appoints all the Cabinet
members and most other high-ranking officials in the executive branch as well as all the
judges of the judicial branch, including members of the Supreme Court. The President is
also the commander-in-chief of the country's military forces, has the power to make treaties
with foreign governments and can approve or reject bills passed by Congress (although a bill
can be passed without the President's signature if two thirds of Congress vote in favour of it).
Despite their wide-ranging authority, US presidents have limits on their power. Congress
can check presidential power by refusing to fund presidential initiatives, either at home
or abroad. It can also refuse to confirm presidential appointees", such as ambassadors or
Supreme Court justices. And ultimately, only Congress can write and pass the laws that the
executive branch has to implement
MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES

parties for most of the USA's history, there has been a competitive two-party system.
● Democratic Party More inclined to have socially liberal attitudes towards civil rights
and welfare spending.
● Republican Party Tends to promote low tax rates and a limited welfare system,
combined with a strong military and a strict criminal justice system.
THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION

The US Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution. It was written
in 1787 and officially adopted by the 13 states which formed the country in 1789. It is often
called the 'supreme law' because no other laws may contradict any of its principles and no
person or government is exempt from following it.
The Constitution has two main sections: the document and the amendments.
The document has never been changed. It lists the reasons why the Constitution was written
and specifies the basic form of government. It outlines the powers and duties of each federal
branch of government, along with other powers and duties belonging to the states.
Amendments have been added to the Constitution to guarantee specific rights and to solve
problems which have arisen since the document was first written. The first ten amendments
list the fundamental rights of any American and are known as the Bill of Rights'. Addedin
1791, thev include provisions' for freedom of religion, speech and the press, the right of
citizens to meet peacefully and the right of any person charged with breaking the law
to have a quick trial with a jury. Other important amendments are the 15th, 19t and 26th
amendments, which gave Black people, women and 18-year-olds the right to vote.
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM UK

The UK is sometimes known as the 'mother of parliaments' because the parliamentary
system
developed there. Other countries, in particular countries within the Commonwealth, have
copied and adapted the parliamentary model.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy (with a King or a Queen as the Head of State) and a
parliamentary democracy (with the parliament as the legislative body). The Parliament is
bicameral, with an elected House of Commons and a non-elected House of Lords. In the
past, membership of the House of Lords was a right of birth to hereditary peers'", but today,
after a series of reforms, only 92 hereditary peers remain and the rest are appointed.
THE UK GOVERNMENT
The UK government is responsible for running the country. The political party that wins the
most seats in the House of Commons at a general election takes control of the government
for the next tive years.
The Prime Minister (PM) is the Head of Government and is chosen by the party members,
but officially appointed by the monarch. The Prime Minister selects and is supported bya
series of ministers. The most important of these form a committee called the 'Cabinet. The
members of the Cabinet are the heads of the Departments of State such as the Home
Department, the Treasury, the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Transport.
Every week, members of the Cabinet meet the Prime Minister to discuss the most important
issues for the government. They set taxes, choose what to spend public money on and
decide how best to deliver public services. The government also proposes changes to law,
which
must be approved by the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES

For the past 150 years, Britain has had a predominantly two-party system consisting of:
" Conservative Party Right-of-centre party? developed from the group of MPs (Members of
Parliament) known as the 'Tories' in the early 19th century.
-Labour Party Left-of-centre party formed at the beginning of the 20th century from an
alliance of trade unionists' and intellectuals.
Other political parties that are represented in Parliament include the Scottish National
Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), Sinn Féin
(Nothern Ireland), Plaid Cymru (Wales) and the Green Party.
DEVOLUTION
Over recent years, the UK has given Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland more control
over their own domestic affairs through devolution. However, the three countries are still
represented in the UK Parliament both in the House of Commons and in the House of
Lords. Although the new devolved* governments have some legislative powers, they do not
have the same power as the UK Parliament, which maintains control of certain areas such
as
the tax system, security, defence, international relations and communication.
COMPARING CONSTITUTION
THE MAGNA CARTA

On June 15, 1215, King John of England was forced to sign the Great Charter of the
Liberties of England (Latin Magna Carta Libertatum). This was the result of a period of
oppressive reign and heav taxation that caused fierce resistance from his country' feudal
barons. The document gave some protection to nobles and the clergy', introduced fair trial?
and determined that even the king was subject to the law.
The Magna Carta laid the foundations of freedom and human rights and represented the first
step towards the development of modern democracy. It is considered the cornerstone? of
the British monarchy and many other
constitutional documents.
UK CONSTITUTION
Britain has an "uncodified" constitution made up
of laws, judicial decisions, international treaties, conventions and rules, rather than a single
document. Unlike other countries, the British Constitution has evolved over the centuries,
according to the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty. This means that the validity of the
laws made by the British Parliament cannot be challenged bv any other body. Technically,
the Monarch has the right to refuse to make a Bill into an Act of Parliament, but this last
happened in 1707. Over several decades, politicians have debated whether or not to have a
written constitution. People who are in favour of a written constitution arque that it would be
an important protection against an abuse of government powers. Those who support an
unwritten constitution believe that it is more flexible and that a written constitution would be
much more difficult to amend.
US CONSTITUTION
The Constitution of the United States is one of the
oldest written federal constitutions in the world. It was
signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia and
adopted in 1789 by 13 American States, with George
Washington as first President. The Constitution is one
of the shortest in the world. It consists of a Preamble,
explaining its inspiring principles, and just seven articles The document regulates rights and
relations between citizens and the American state. Over the centuries, the US Constitution
has been amended 27 times until now The first ten of these amendments are together called
the Bill of Rights, which derives mainly from the Magna Carta and represents the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of American Citizens. The first amendment guarantees the freedom to
practise any religion, to speak freely, to organise peaceful meetings and the right to fair trial.

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THE POLITICAL SYSTEM USA

The USA is a federal republic. It is a federal union of 50 states based on a presidential

MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES

THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM UK

MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES

THE MAGNA CARTA

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