United States: Difference between revisions

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The [[federal government of the United States|federal government]] is the national government, comprising the [[Congress of the United States|Congress]] (the [[legislature|legislative]] branch), the [[President of the United States|President]] (the executive branch), and the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] (the judicial branch). These three branches were designed to apply [[checks and balances]] on each other. The Constitution limits the powers of the federal government to defense, foreign affairs, the issuing and management of currency, the management of trade and relations between the states, and the protection of [[human rights]]. In addition to these explicitly stated powers, the federal government—with the assistance of the Supreme Court—has gradually extended these powers into such areas as [[welfare]] and education, on the basis of the "[[Necessary_and_Proper_Clause|necessary and proper clause]]" of the Constitution. This is in contrast to the Canadian experience, in which a centralist constitution has gradually become less so over the past century.

The Congress is a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] law- making institution composed of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|Senate]], which both meet in the [[United States Capitol]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]]. The House has 435 members, called representatives or congressmen/congresswomen, are elected by the people of a [[congressional district]] to represent that district for a term of fourtwo years. The number of districts for each state depends on its population, except that each state has at least one representative. According to the [[United States 2000 census|2000 census]], the districts had an average population of about 640,000 people. The Senate has 100 members, called senators, who represent whole, individual states for terms of six years. Each state is represented by two senators, regardless of population. On the same day as House elections, roughly one third of the Senate seats are contested, one each from roughly two thirds of the states on a rotational basis. The Constitution initially gave the state legislatures the power to elect senators; however, the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Seventeenth Amendment]] transferred this role to the people.

At the top of the executive branch is the President of the United States. The President and Vice President are elected as 'running mates' for four-year terms by the people, via the [[U.S. Electoral College|Electoral College]], for which each state, as well as the District of Columbia, is allocated a number of seats based on its representation (or ostensible representation, in the case of D. C.) in both houses of Congress (see [[U.S. Electoral College]]). The relationship between the President and the Congress reflects that between the English monarchy and parliament at the time of the framing of the United States Constitution. Congress can legislate to constrain the President's executive power, even with respect to his or her command of the armed forces; however, this power is used only very rarely—a notable example was the contraint placed on President [[Richard Nixon]]'s strategy of bombing [[Cambodia]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. The President cannot directly propose legislation, and must rely on supporters in Congress to promote his or her legislative agenda. The President's signature is required to turn congressional bills into law; in this respect, the President has the power—only occasionally used—to veto congressional legislation. Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. The ultimate power of Congress over the President is that of [[impeachment]] or removal of the elected President through a House vote, a Senate trial, and a Senate vote. The threat of using this power has had major political ramifications in the cases of Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]], Richard Nixon, and [[Bill Clinton]].