Chapter 4: We – the People

Politics in the United States:

Dividing Power

http://access.cappelen.no

Text Analysis

• Grammar: sentences:– What types of sentences? – Average length? Variety?– Lexical and functional words?– Incomplete clauses / sentences?– Linking words?– Predominate tense? Present, past, future?

http://access.cappelen.no

Text Analysis

• Lexis – word use– Too many big words?– Formal / informal?– Objective/ subjective?– Nouns – abstract / concrete?– Collocations?– Figures of speech? i.e. similie, meaphor, irony,

sarcasm, wordplay?

http://access.cappelen.no

Text Analysis

• How is the topic introduced?• How is any reference to previous text made?• How are the arguments / points?• How does the conclusion tie in with the

opening?

http://access.cappelen.no

Dividing Power – The Federal Government

• Americans distrusted and limited government power in several ways:– They created a representative democracy– They made a federal system based on the

separation of power– Within the federal system they created checks

and balances

http://access.cappelen.no

Federalism and Separation of Power

• States delegate power to the federal government

• States reserve most power for themselves• Federal government is divided into the

executive, legislative and judicial branches• Each branch sets limits (checks) on the others,

balancing their power

http://access.cappelen.no

Congress – The Legislative Branch

• Consists of two chambers, the Senate and House of Representatives

• The Senate has 100 Senators elected every six years

• The House of Representatives has 435 Congressmen elected every two years

• Congress has the power to pass laws, levy taxes and spend tax money

http://access.cappelen.no

The President – The Executive Branch

• Is chosen every four years by national election• Is Head of State and Chief Executive • Is Commander-in-Chief and Chief Diplomat• Has gained more power since the Constitution

was adopted

http://access.cappelen.no

The Supreme Court – The Judicial Branch

• Is the highest court in the land, i.e. sets precedents for lower courts

• Decides what is constitutional through judicial review

• Has great power compared to similar institutions in other countries

• Consists of nine Justices appointed for life

http://access.cappelen.no

Checks and Balances – Examples

• Congress can pass legislation, but the President can veto it

• The President can make a federal budget, but Congress can reject it

• The Supreme Court can reject a law both the President and Congress agree on

• The President and Congress can decide who is appointed to the Supreme Court

http://access.cappelen.no

State Government

• Most governing goes on at the state level • Most state governments are modeled on

federal system• American states have enormous variety • They have a great degree of local democracy

http://access.cappelen.no

State Government – Advantages and Disadvantages

• States are a source of innovation – 50 ”laboratories of democracy”

• States rights’ protect local democracy from federal power

• States’ rights can make America hard to govern

• States’ variety can be a source of inequality

http://access.cappelen.no

Budget process Y2012• National debt 2011 $14.1 trillion

• Annual deficit $1.3 trillion

• Spent too much money the federal government doesn’t have

• Too involved in many things it cannot do well and shouldn’t do at all

• Since 2007 Congress has been on an unprecedented spending spree

http://access.cappelen.no

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

• Is a federal statute that was signed into United States law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. This Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (signed into law on March 30, 2010) made up the health care reform of 2010.

• The laws focus on reform of private health insurance

• Provide better coverage for those with pre-existing conditions

• Improve prescription drug coverage in Medicare[3]

http://access.cappelen.no

“ObamaCare”

http://access.cappelen.no