USA Flashcards
1
Q
General features
A
- 50 States
- Bicameral Structure
- Presidential System
- Each State has its own constitution and government
2
Q
Upper Chamber - Elections
A
Senate :
- Two senators per State = 100
- 6 years term, 1/3 reelected every 2 years
- Elected by the People directly in the state according to state legislation
- Presided over by the Vice-President (no vote unless Senate vote is tied)
3
Q
Lower Chamber - Elections
A
House of Representatives :
- At least one Representative per state
- Depending on population, a state can have more than 1 Representative
- If more than 1 Representative, state is divided in districts, each district will elect one Representative
- Directly elected 4 years
- 435 members
- By plurality of votes
4
Q
Head of Government - Elections
A
President :
- Elected via electoral college
- For term of 4 years renewable only once
- Electors per state equal to members of congress in state → elected according to state legislation
- Each state gets the number of seats in Senate + number of seats it has in House and 3 electors for DC (= 100 + 435 + 3 = 538)
- Electors vote in their state by absolute majority
- If no absolute majority, House of Representatives elects President and Senate elects Vice-President
Same for Vice-President (but they can not be from the same state)
5
Q
Head of Government - Powers
A
- President appoints cabinet of secretaries but needs advice and consent of senate
- Same for supreme court justice nominations
- Commander in chief of the armed forces
- Signs bills into law
Veto:
- Both Chambers absolute veto
- Can veto a bill (only as a whole). The bill will then be sent back to the chamber of origin which can override it by ⅔ majority. The same procedure must then be followed by the other chamber
- Pocket veto - Neither sign nor vetoes bill→ passes into law after 10 days unless Congress adjourned
6
Q
Motion of confidence
A
No motion of confidence, only impeachment
7
Q
Impeachment
A
- Impeachment Procedure for Conviction of Treason, Bribery, high crimes or misdemeanours Art.2(4)UC
- Introduced by House of Representatives
- By 2/3 majority Senate
8
Q
Lower chamber - Powers
A
- Power of initiative
- Power of amendment
- Veto power
- Approve military budget, together with Senate
9
Q
Power of amendment
A
In both chambers
Procedure :
- Within each chamber bill is referred to committees for detailed consideration then voted, amended etc on floor
- If adopted, it passes to other chamber
- If bill amended back to the original version it goes to a joint committee (conference committee)
- Committee can propose further amendments to reach compromise then it is voted on separately in each house
- Bills coming out of committee cannot be amended only yes or no vote
- Yes, bill passes. No, bill is rejected
10
Q
Court System
A
Each state has its own court system parallel to the federal court system
Federal courts :
- All federal courts may review constitutionality of legislation.
- State courts must refer case to federal court if state question comes up
- Supreme Court is the highest federal court
- Judges are appointed for life by the President, with the consent of the Senate
The Supreme Court has discretion on which cases it would like to hear
11
Q
Constitutional amendments
A
By 2/3 of each chamber
12
Q
Head of State
A
President, same as Head of Government
13
Q
Upper Chamber - Powers
A
- Approves military budget
- Gives approval for the president to sign international treaties and to appoint government workers (judges, ministers…)
- Power of initiative (unless tax bill)
- Power of amendment
- Veto Power
14
Q
Congress - Powers
A
Congress = Senate + House of Representatives :
- Spending Power - To lay and collect taxes as well as provide for common defence and general welfare
- Commerce clause - Regulate commerce with foreign nations, between states and with Indian tribes
- Necessary and proper clause - Gives power when necessary to execute the above mentioned powers
