British and American Governments

A Brief Introduction

Comparison

United States• The United States is a

federal government.– a government where power is

divided between different branches (divisions)

• Rules of government stated in the Constitution

The United Kingdom• The British government is a

constitutional monarchy.– a government where the

power of the king (or queen) is restrained by the parliament

American Government

Basic Terms and Vocabulary

The Three Branches of the U.S. Federal Government (p. 241)

• Executive Branch – President– Vice-President – Cabinet

• Legislative Branch – Congress – Senate and the House of Representatives

• Judicial Branch – Supreme Court

Why 3 Branches?• This system is designed to “balance the powers”

of the government– “System of Checks and Balances”– Intends to prevent a branch from becoming too

powerful

• Example: – Congress can pass a law– The President can agree with it– However, the Supreme Court can declare the law

unconstitutional

Executive Branch (p. 242)

• The President• Powers:– Head of government (chief of state)– Commands the armed forces (military)– Foreign policy– Power to veto (reject) laws created by Congress• Unless Congress is able to receive a 2/3rds majority

vote

Legislative Branch (Congress) (p. 245)

Senate • 100 voting members

– 2 from each state

• 6 year terms in office

House of Representatives• 435 voting members

– Different number of representatives from each state

– This number depends on the population

• 2 year terms in office

Legislative Branch

• Congress (Senate and House of Representatives)• Powers:– Make laws– Defense

• Declare war• Raise and support armies

– Levy (impose) and collect taxes– Coin money– Power to impeach President

• To challenge President (when trying to remove President)

Judicial Branch (p. 250)

• The highest court in the United States– Led by the Chief Justice (highest judge)• 8 other Justices (or judges) form the court

• Interpret laws in the Constitution

• Can overturn (change) old laws that are unconstitutional

Famous Supreme Court Cases

• Brown vs. Board of Education (1954)– Ended segregation in U.S. schools

• Roe vs. Wade (1973)– The right to abortion

• Engel vs. Vitale (1962)– Banned school prayer• Right to freedom of religion

State and Local Governments (p. 261)

• According to the Constitution, any powers not held by the federal government are held by the state

• Each state has its own constitution and branches– Executive Branch – Governor– Legislative – Each state has representatives that can

create laws (State Congress)– Judicial – Each state has their own “Supreme Court”

British Government

Basic Terms and Vocabulary

Constitutional Monarchy

• The King or Queen is limited in power

• In Britain, the Prime Minister and his cabinet holds most of the power– Similar to the President

• The Parliament holds most of the power– Similar to the U.S. Congress which we discussed

Parliament• Like the U.S. Congress, the Parliament has the power

to create laws

• House of Lords – Was once more powerful than the Commons– Began after the “Magna Carta”

• House of Commons– Most powerful “House”– Representatives are voted for by British citizens– Holds powers very similar to the U.S. Congress