1、Chapter 10,The United States of America,Government,CONTENTS,1. US Constitution,Constitutionbasic instrument law, drawn up in 1787, came into effect in 1789. Two characters: separation of powers, check and balances; specified exactly what power the central government had and which power was reserved
2、for the states.,1. US Constitution,Significance of the Constitution Taking precedence over all state constitutions and laws, and over laws made by the congress; First of its kind in the world, it has inspired dozens of other countries to seek political reform.,Basic law of the land Nations political
3、 stability Economic growth Social progress,What is federalism? What is the separation of powers? What are the qualifications for a US President? How do you understand the power of American President?,2. Federal System & Government,Questions for brain-storming,2. Federal System & Government,2.1,2.2,2
4、.3,2.4,2.1 The Federal Government,The Federal Governmentthe central government.Three equal and separate branches： The Executive branch The Legislative branch The Judicial branch They are checked and balanced by one another.,2.1 The Federal Government,System of U. S. Government,Checks and Balances,2.
5、2 The executive branch,2.2.1,2.2.2,2.2.3,2.2.4,2.2.1 Departments & White House,The executive branch consists of 14 departments and many independent agencies； Cabinet is formed by department headssecretaries； source of advice and assistance to the president President is chief of the executive. first
6、citizen his wifeFirst Lady,Oval Office: Bushs New Rug,,2.2.1 Departments & White House,Official presidential residence The president works and lives here and the offices of most of his staffs are also located there, such as White House Staff, National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Ag
7、ency (CIA), etc.,The White House at Christmas night,2.2.2 Functions of The President,As Chief Executive, he is given the authority or duty: to command the armed forces and grant pardons; to make appointments to certain offices; to conclude treaties; to send and receive diplomatic and consular offici
8、als; to inform Congress on the “state of the Union”; to recommend legislation, approve or veto bills passed by Congress, and ensure the execution of laws.,2.2.2 Functions of The President,The presidents limits: major appointments with approval of the Senate; veto overridden by Congress with two-thir
9、ds consent of the Senators; all appropriations legislated by Congress; can be impeached by Congress if abusing power or committing crimes; no power to dismiss Congress; his policy can be vetoed and abolished by The Supreme Court.,2.2.3 Qualifications of The President,Natural-born American citizen of
10、 and over 35 years-old; Being resident within the US for at least 14 years; Serve one or two successive terms of four years. Franklin D. Rooseveltthe only president who served more than two successive terms. After World War II, Congress adopted an amendment limiting a president to two successive ter
11、ms only.,Oath-Taking Ceremony,2.2.4 President and Scandal,Watergate ScandalThe Watergate scandal occurred in 1972.It remains one of the top presidential scandals of modern time.,Chinese poems quotoed by American Presidents,Obama: (Town Hall)Chinese proverb：Consider the past you shall know the future
12、. NixonChairman has written: So many deeds cry out to be done, and always urgently; the world rolls on, time presses. Ten thousand years are too long; seize the day, seize the hour！This is the hour. This is the day for our two people (现在就是我们两国人民只争朝夕的时候了)Cliton (1998) in Xian CityLet us give new mean
13、ing to the words written in the ancient Book of Rites, what you call the Li Shi: When the great way is followed, all under heaven will be equal(让我们给礼记这本历史古书的文字赋予新的意义：当大家走伟大的道路时，世界所有的人都将是平等的)。,Reagan:Many centuries ago, Wang Po, a famous Chinese poet-philosopher, wrote, “Although we reside in far cor
14、ners of the world, having a good friend is akin to having a good neighbor.“ Senior Bush (1989)Theres a Chinese proverb that says: “One generation plants a tree; the next sits in its shade.“ ： where we relished the history of the Three Kingdoms and could almost hear the poet Li Bos description of “th
15、e monkeys who screamed from the two sides without stopping.“,Junior Bush: (2005)Thousands of years before Thomas Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln, a Chinese poet wrote that, “the people should be cherished, the people are the root of a country；the root firm, the country is tranquil.” (在托马斯杰斐逊或亚伯拉罕林肯诞生的几
16、千年前，就有一位中国诗人写道：“人民应该被珍视，人民是国家的根基。根基牢固，国家就安宁)。这句话出自尚书夏书中的“五子之歌”，原文是“民可近，不可下。民惟邦本，本固邦宁”。Obama: Thousands of years ago, the great philosopher Mencius said：A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time.“ (山径之蹊间，介
17、然用之而成路；为间不用，则茅塞之矣。今茅塞子之心矣 孟子尽心下)。,2.2.4 President and Scandal,To defeat his adversary, Nixon hired five burglars to set up wiretaps to get confidential information in the Democratic National Committee offices;It was exposed and became the biggest political scandal in the history of America;Because o
18、f the pressure of public, Nixon was impeached and resigned in 1974.,Listen to the Audio: Watergate,What qualifications are prescribed for a Representative and a Senator? What are the functions of the Congress? Briefly state the legislative processhow does a bill become law? What do you know about th
19、e Judicial Branch and the Jury System?,2.3 The Legislative Branch,Questions for brain-storming,2.3 The Legislative Branch,2.3.1,2.3.2,2.3.3,2.3.4,2.3.1 Congress,Law-making and the supreme legislative body； Two houses: the Senate the House of Representatives The Capitol is no longer opened to the pub
20、lic after the terror event on Sept. 11th, 2001.,Capitol,2.3.2 The Senate,100 voting members, two from each state; They may be reelected for an unlimited number of six-year terms, chosen by a direct election; Qualifications for being a senator: over 30 years old; a US citizen for at least 9 years; re
21、sident in the state from which he is elected.,2.3.3 The House of Representatives,435 voting members plus a non-voting representative from Puerto Rico, Guma and the District of Columbia; State legislature divides each state into congressional districts, each district electing one Representative; Qual
22、ifications for being a representative: at least 25 years old; a US citizen for no less than 7 years; serve for a term of two years.,2.3.4 The Function of Congress,Function of Congresspassing laws for the Union; Either house may introduce legislation on any subject except the revenue bills which must
23、 originate in the House of Representatives.,Joint Session of Congress,,The constitution is generous in its grant of powers to Congress; Among these powers are： the power to “spend and tax in order to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States”; the power to borrow money;
24、 the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states;,2.3.4 The Function of Congress,the power to declare war, raise and support armies, and provide and maintain a navy; the power to establish post offices and post roads; the power to set up the federal courts under the Supreme Cour
25、t; the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution”.,2.3.4 The Function of Congress,2.4 The Judicial Branch,The judicial branch consists of a series of courts: the Supreme Court the courts of appeals12 the district courts94 The Supreme Courthighest court;
26、One Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices; decisions are made by the majority. appointed by the President with the Senates approval; only removed from office by Congress through difficult impeachment.,Jury System,In most criminal justice systems and some civil cases, panels are initially select
27、ed at random from the adult population of the district. A person who is serving on (is a member of) a jury is known as a juror.The number of jurors is usually twelve, though smaller cases may require only six. Some alternate jurors are nominated to follow the trial when jurors do not complete the tr
28、ial for health or other reasons (but they do not take part in deciding the verdict).,The role of the jury is the “finder of fact”, while the Judge has the sole responsibility of interpreting the appropriate law and instructing the jury accordingly. Occasionally, a jury may find the defendant “not gu
29、ilty“ even though he violated the law if the jury thinks that the law is invalid or unjust.,Jury System,What are the differences between the two major parties? What are the functions of the major parties when the general election comes? How the president is voted in the US? What is the “winner-take-
30、all” system?,3. Political Parties,Questions for brain-storming,3. Political Parties,3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.1 Symbols of the parties,Donkey & Elephant In 1847, American artist Thomas Nest drew a political picture with a donkey representing the Democratic Party and an elephant representing the Republican P
31、arty.,The Democratic Party and the Republican Party,From then on, they became the symbol of the two parties.,3.2 The Democratic Party,The Democratic Partyliberal; Governmentplaying an important role in the economy and emphasizing full employment; Favor civil rights laws, a strong social security sys
32、tem and less restrictive abortion laws, etc.; More disposed to search out a method of living with Russia and China and to look for reduction in arms spending.,3.3 The Republican Party,The Republican Partyconservative; Favor an economic systemgiving enterprises a greater freedom and demand the govern
33、ment to control inflation; Stress the need for law and order; Oppose complete governmental social programs and free choice of abortion; Favor a strong military posture and assertive stands in international relations.,3.4 Function of Parties,To nominate candidates for office and help them in their el
34、ection campaigns. find the most suitable candidates; help candidates to collect the money needed, mobilize the party activists or hire people to help them with the propaganda; urge the public to vote for them and undermine the rivals by exposing their personal flaws or attacking their policies.,4. E
35、lection,There are many kinds of elections in the United States. When an American votes in November in the presidential election each leap year, he is voting in several other elections as well; He also votes for a Representative or a Senator; At regular intervals he votes to choose the governor of hi
36、s state, the mayor of his city and the holders of several local public offices.,Presidential Election,Only the candidates nominated by the two major parties have the chance to win a Presidential election; The election process is complex; The Presidential election (four stages): The first stage: the
37、major parties hold conventions to choose candidates for President and Vice-President and to determine the partys platform.,Listen to the audio: American youth supports Democratic Party,Presidential Election,The second stage is the campaigning stage. By early fall the presidential race is on. From th
38、at time until the election day, voters are bombarded from all sidesby radio, television, newspapers, and personal communications with political material. There are whistle stop tours by train, by plane, and by car. The candidate delivers countless speeches and shakes countless hands. This is a very
39、important stage in the general election.,Presidential Election,The third stage is the time for voters to choose the list of presidential electors for the state. The number of electors of each state is equal to that of its senators and representatives in Congress. There are altogether 538 presidentia
40、l electors, 535 from the states and 3 from the District of Columbia (without seats in Congress).,Presidential Election,All the candidates of Presidential electors are party nominees. People will vote their party candidate for the presidency. As a result, a voter is actually choosing a President when
41、 he casts his vote for an elector. “Winner-take-all” principle If the candidates of a party for “electors” in a given state receive a majority of the total vote, then the party is entitled to have all the electoral votes for that state.,Presidential Election,When the presidential electors are chosen
42、 out in the presidential election year, people have already known who is going to be the US president in the next four years. Although the result is already known, the electors still meet in their state capitals and cast their votes for President and vice-President on the first Monday after the seco
43、nd Wednesday in December. That is the fourth stage.,Presidential Election,On November 2nd, 2004, George Walker Bush was reelected as Americas forty-third president. But he is the first in sixteen years to win a majority of the popular vote. The last one was his father, in 1988.,Senate Kerry & his wi
44、fe, Teresa,President Bush & his wife, Laura,Presidential Election,OBama and Hillary The two most likely Democratic candidates for 2008 Presidential Election. With the withdrawal of Hillary Clinton, OBamas success is on the way.,5. Foreign policy,5.1,5.2,5.1 Neutrality,“Declaration of Neutrality”； Am
45、erica entered the warGerman government resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917； Wilson submitted Fourteen Points in 1918;,5.1 Neutrality,Fourteen Points abandonment of secret international agreements; freedom of the seas; free trade between nations; reductions in national armaments (军备、武器); a
46、djustment of colonial claims in the interests of the inhabitants affected; self-rule for subjugated (使屈服、征服) European nationalities; the establishment of an association of nations to afford “mutual guarantees to great and small states alike”.,With the outbreak of World War II, isolationist sentiment
47、 increased； Neutrality legislationprevent the involvement of the war； prohibited trade in arms with any warring nations; required cash for all other commodities; forbade American merchant ships from carrying those goods.,5.1 Neutrality,Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; America dec
48、lared war with the Axis powersGermany, Italy and Japan. The nation rapidly readied itself for mobilization of its people and its entire industrial capacity； Wartime objectivestotal destruction of the Axis powers and the establishment of a world order.,5.1 Neutrality,5.2 Containment and Intervention,
49、The US dominated global affairs after World War II; “American Century”: confident of its mission at home and abroad; to maintain the democratic structure and to share the benefits of prosperity. Containmentpostwar policy affirmed by President Truman： Communism was a threat to the United States; His
50、statements inspired a wave of hysterical anti-Communism throughout the country.,Cold War,Cold Warwaged by Eisenhower placed new emphasis on nuclear strength to prevent the outbreak of war; authorized the CIA to undertake covert actions to overthrow unfriendly governments or protect reliable anti-Communist leaders whose power was threatened; the CIA helped topple the governments of Iran in 1953 and Guatemala (危地马拉) in 1954; Eisenhower helped to create a non-Communist government in South Vietnam.,
