The Political System of The USA

The United States of America is a federal republic which is headed by the president and consists of 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state has its own government.

The Constitutionproclaims a federal system of government which keeps the states and the federal power, from getting too much power. It means that the federal government is given certain power, for example, to make peace or war, to issue money and to regulate the trade and so on. The federal power is located in Washington, D.C.

According to the US Constitution the powers of the Government are divided into three branches: legislative, executive and juridical.

The political life of the country has always been dominated by the two major parties: the Democratic party and the Republican party. At an election time they contest presidency and the majority of seats in the Congress. It’s necessary to point out that the legislative power belongs tothe Congress consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 senators in Congress. Each state elects two members for the Senate. The Senate represents the states while the House of Representatives – population.

The executive branch is headed by the President and his Administration (the Vice President and the Cabinet of Ministers). The Vice President assists the President in political affairs. The President enforces federal laws, serves as a commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The President can veto a bill unless Congress by a two-thirds vote shall overrule him. The Vice President, elected from the same political party as the President, acts as chairman of the Senate, and in the event of the death of the President, assumes the Presidency. The President of the USA is chosen in nationwide elections every 4 years together with the Vice-President. The President cannot be elected for more than two terms. The Cabinet is made up of Department Secretaries. The most important of them is the Secretary of State, who deals with foreign affairs.

The judicial branch is made up of Federal District Courts, 11 Federal Courts and the Supreme Court. Federal judgesare appointed by the President for life. Federal courts have to do with cases involving federal law, conflicts between citizens of different states.

Let’s go into the historical details. The Constitution of the USA was signed by the first thirteen representatives of thirteen original American states in 1787 and since that time twenty six Amendments have been added. The first ten Amendments were simply rights or the Bill of rights. According to the Constitution the USA is a republic. So, the officials of any rank are elected by US citizens. Every citizen has rights which cannot be violated.

Constitution has been amended twenty six times. The Bill of Rights guarantees individual liberties: freedom of word, religion and so on. Later amendments abolishedslavery, grantedthe vote to women and colour people and allowed citizens to vote at the age of 18.

Vocabulary

a federal republic – федеральная республика

to be headed - возглавлять

a president - президент

a government - правительство

the Constitution - конституция

to proclaim – провозглашать, заявлять

federal - федеральный

to issue money – выпускать/печатать деньги

trade - торговля

according to – в соответствии с

branch – здесь в значении «власть»

legislative/executive/juridical branch – законодательная/исполнительная/судебная власть

contest – оспаривать, бороться, сопреничать

the Congress - Конгресс

It’s necessary to point out that… - Необходимо подчеркнуть, что…

to belong to smth- принадлежать к чему-л.

House - палата

the Senate/the House of Representatives – Сенат/Палата Представителей

population - население

the Administration - Министерство

the Vice President –вице-президент

the Cabinet of Ministers – Кабинет министров

affair – дело, вопрос

to enforce (federal laws) – обеспечивать исполнение (федеральных законов)

a commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces – главнокомандующий Вооруженных Сил

a bill – закон/законопроект

overrule – отклонять, считать недействительным

to be elected – быть выбранным

a chairman - председатель

in the event of – в случае

term - срок

to assume - принимать

the Secretary of State – Гос.секретарь

to deal with smth – иметь дело с чем-л.

The Federal (District) Courts/ the Supreme Court – Федеральные Окружные Суды/Верховный Суд

Federal judge – федеральный судья

to be appointed – быть назначенным

involving - включая

а citizen - гражданин

to go into the details - детализировать

to be signed – быть подписанным

a representative - представитель

an Amendment – поправка (к закону/конституции)

simply - просто

the Bill of rights – Билль (закон) о правах (первые 10 поправок в конституции США)

Republic - республика

the officials – власти/чиновники

rights - права

to be violated – быть нарушенным

to be amended – внести поправку

liberty - свобода

freedom of word, religion – свобода слова/религии

to abolish (slavery) – отменить (рабство)

to grant the vote to smb – дать кому-л. право голоса

to allow – разрешить