Transcript Folie 1 - Zahweh

The Political System
of the
United States of America
Patrick Lobsiger
Stefan Haag
Thomas Bührer
Daniel Wehrli
David Vidal
16 December 2004
History
Political System of the USA
History
1492:
Christoph Columbus discovered America
1542:
Hernando de Soto (Spanish explorer and conquistador) was not successful in finding
new precious metal resources for the Spanish crown in southern North America. The
Spanish king paid afterwards more attention to his core competences in South and
Middle America, where gold and silver mines were already found. This strategic move
shows that although North America had a lot of cultivated land available for peasants,
animals for furriers or woods for lumberjacks, it was only the precious metal that
counted for the glory of a Spanish knight at that time. It was this abandonment
(Verzicht) by the Spaniards that enabled the colonisation of the north eastern territory
of America by the British, French and other European nations
1620:
The merchant vessel “Mayflower”, with Puritans and other emigrants on board arrived
in North America. They were the first colonists who came to the New World to gain
religious liberty. They were also the first to draw up a written agreement providing for
“such a government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make
and choose.” This historic document, signed on the ship, is known as the Mayflower
Compact.
The Pilgrims left England because the English king, James I, did not permit freedom
of religion. Everyone was expected to belong to the official state church, the Church of
England. Some groups of people objected to certain of its practices. The Puritans set
out to “purify” the state church (=> therefore the name Puritans). They regarded
themselves as “the chosen people” and they intended to establish a “better England”,
a new Jerusalem, a shining example for the old continent in the New World, America.
Parallel to today: Out of the aim to finish the reformation process
according to Jean Calvin and being an idol for the whole world,
America derived its missionary task to bring the world freedom and
democracy. This phenomenon can still be seen today with the recent
American approach to implement a democratic system in Irak.
Political System of the USA
History
How England built up its colonies in America
Because the English King had no funds to finance the colonization of North America, he gave away
patents with certain rights and responsibilities (charters) to rich private investors and Joint Stock
Companies, which run the risk that no settlers were interested in the areas offered. In order to avoid
the high costs of building a whole infrastructure, the Joint Stock Companies tried to sell those patents
to Freeman Assemblies (alliance of settlers). By shifting the risk to the settlers, the Joint Stock
Companies could quickly cover its minimal costs and were even able to gain money at a later stage.
On the other hand, the Freeman Assemblies had different responsibilities, such as road construction,
police, defense, administration, postal service, etc., but they were authorised to levy taxes.
Those autonomous structures had different positive effects. By introducing a militia and honorary
offices in administration (Ehrenämter für Verwaltung), its citizens had to pay rather moderate taxes,
because costs of were held low. Furthermore this autonomous system was highly accepted by the
population and it had the additional PR-effect that more and more Europeans immigrated to the “land
of the unlimited possibilities”.
This way of colonisation was also lucrative for the king. Through rising trading activities he obtained
taxes and customs from his new colony.
Growing estrangement (Entfremdung) from
the American colonies to its mother land England
There were several reasons: the geographical distance, ongoing religious conflicts and the introduced
autonomy (Charters) in America, at which the latter lead to a autocratic (selbstherrlich) attitude of
some American colonies, e.g. “New English Confederation”. Therefore, England took measures by
cancelling the charters and withdrew different patents, such as the right of the Freeman Assembly to
levy taxes. The autonomous colonies became English crown colonies and the self-government rights
were assigned to a governor. In fact the deployed (eingesetzt) governor was not
supported by the population and had to work together with the Freeman
Assembly, which remained very strong.
Political System of the USA
History
Mercantilist policy of England
Because England feared that the American colonies could start to produce “manufactured goods”
themselves, they imposed new rules on its colony in order to limit competition and to increase the kings
customs revenues (woollen act 1699, hat act 1732, iron act 1750).
Fight for colonial rights
When England won “the old French and Indian War” (1755 – 1763), Canada was ceded (abgetreten) by
France to Great Britain, which consequently took over a leading role in North America. But the flip side of
the coin was a vast budget deficit. Once more, the king imposed different restrictions and taxes on his
American colonies in order to finance the war (e.g. sugar act 1764 and stamp act 1765). This measures
resulted in revolts as the colonists insisted on a voice in parliament (“no taxation without representation”).
Although the British parliament reacted by abolishing a couple of taxes until 1773, the “Sons of liberty” (a
secret society) rallied support for colonial resistance through the use of petitions, assemblies, propaganda
and sometimes even violence against officials of the mother country. In 1773 the revolt achieved its first
peak level with the “Boston Tea Party”, where Americans, dressed up as Indians, entered British ships and
threw chests of tea into the harbour. In retaliation, the British Parliament passed a series of punitive
measures known in the colonies as the “Intolerable Acts”, including the Boston Port Bill, which shut off the
city’s sea trade pending payment for the destroyed tea. The British government’s efforts to make an
example served only to unite the colonies and impelled the drift toward war.
1774 - First Colonial Congress
The First Colonial Congress convened (versammelte) in response to the Acts imposed by England. Fiftysix deputies represented all the colonies except Georgia. To provide unity, delegates gave one vote to each
state regardless of its size. Meeting in secret session, the body rejected a plan for reconciling (aussöhnen)
British authority with colonial freedom. Instead, it adopted a declaration of personal rights, including life,
liberty, property, assembly and trial by jury. The declaration also
denounced taxation without representation and the maintenance of the British
army in the colonies without their consent. In an effort to force compliance, the
Congress called for a general boycott of British goods and eventual nonexportation
of American products. Its last act was to set a date for a second Congress.
Political System of the USA
History
1775 - Second Colonial Congress
Before that meeting hostilities had already broken out between Americans and British troops. New
members of the Second Congress included Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The Congress tried
to build an “army of the united colonies”. The appointed supreme commander of the armed forces is later
the first president of the United States of America, George Washington.
The Second Colonial Congress also acted as the provisional government of the 13 colony-states, issuing
and borrowing money, establishing a postal service, and creating a navy.
1776 – Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was largely written by Thomas Jefferson and it was accepted by the 13
founder States on July 04th. It can be said that the declaration contained nothing really novel in its political
philosophy, which was derived from John Locke, Algernon Sidney, and other English theorists. It
substantially abandoned contention on the basis of the rights of Englishmen, the declaration put forth the
more fundamental doctrines of natural rights and of government under social contract. Claiming that
Parliament never truly possessed sovereignty over the colonies and that the crown of right exercised it only
under contract. A long list of accusations was offered toward proving this contention. The right and duty of
revolution were then invoked.
Parallel to today: The notional roots of this declaration origin from influences, which can still be seen
today in the USA: - Calvinism (if a ruler is “bad”, it is allowed to unseat him)
- Enlightenment (“Truth to be self-evident”, die Wahrheit soll offensichtlich sein)
- Strong religious background (“all men are created equal”)
Political System of the USA
History
1776 - 1783 War of Independence
Until early in 1778 the conflict was a civil war within the British Empire; afterwards it became an
international war as France (in 1778), Spain (in 1779), and the Netherlands (in 1780) joined the colonies
against Britain. After 8 years and the important financial and military help of France, the war was finished
and officially declared in Paris in 1783. The Colonies receive their sovereignty and the American
Confederation was born (but not the USA yet).
Articles of Confederation
The Congress also prepared the Articles of Confederation (already in 1776), which, after being sanctioned
by all the states, became the first U.S. constitution in March 1781. Those Articles served as a bridge
between the initial government by the Continental Congress of the Revolutionary period and the federal
government provided under the U.S. constitution of 1787. Because the experience of overbearing British
central authority was vivid in colonial minds, the drafters of the Articles deliberately established a
confederation of sovereign states. The Confederation provided the nation with instructive experience in
self-government under a written document. In revealing their own weakness, the Articles paved the way for
the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the present form of U.S. government. The constitution from
1787 strengthened a central government under a president, who, in 1789, became George Washington –
the first president of the U.S.A.
Parallel to today: After a 8 year term of office (Amtszeit), George Washington resigned and by doing so,
he enabled that we use to have many democracies with replacements (Ablösung) after a certain time. In
the U.S.A. for instance, a president is being replaced after 8 years at the latest.
Political System of the USA
History
1823 – Monroe Doctrine
While the United States was branching out (verzweigt) across the continent, certain South American
colonies had become independent republics. The U.S. wanted to have their independence recognized
as European nations such as Spain threatened to reclaim their lost colonies in South America.
Therefore, the U.S.A. formulated a specific outline of their foreign policy guidelines, which was later
named the Monroe Doctrine. It said that any attempt by a European power to colonize in the Western
Hemisphere would be considered an act of aggression against the United States. The United States
would, in turn, avoid interfering in European affairs. The Monroe Doctrine became the cornerstone for
handling foreign affairs in future presidential administrations.
Parallel to today: The Monroe Doctrine shows an important link from the past to today. After having
achieved its independency, the U.S. were protected from 2 big oceans. By not getting involved in
European wars, America could build its nation, its political power and its strong economy. It is therefore
that some circles in the U.S.A. would prefer a less active world police role of their country. Especially if
the American SDI (strategic defense initiative) system against potential nuclear attacks (as originally
conceived from the Soviet Union) is being successfully implemented, America might be a less active
world “cop” => again isolation policy.
1861 – 1866 American Civil War
The outbreak of armed hostilities was the culmination of decades of growing friction over the related
issues of slavery, trade and tariffs, and the doctrine of the states’ rights. This friction arose out of
fundamental differences between the economies of the Northern and the Southern states. The North
had a growing manufacturing sector and small farms using free labour, while the South’s economy was
based on large farms (plantations) using slave labour. In the 1840s and ’50s the Northern states wanted
Political System of the USA
History
to prohibit slavery in the western territories that would eventually become new states. The Southern
states opposed all efforts to block the expansion of slavery and feared that the North’s stance would
eventually endanger existing slaveholdings in the South itself. By the 1850s, some Northeners had
begun calling for the complete abolition of slavery, while several Southern states threatened to secede
from the Union as a means to protect their right to keep slaves. When Abraham Lincoln was elected
president in the late ’60s (by the way the first president from a northern state), the Southern states
carried out their threat and seceded, organizing as the Confederate States of America.
In 1861 the civil war started. 11 South States fought against 23 North States. The war lasted about 4
years until the Blue (north) achieved its victory. This civil war claimed the most deaths (618’000)
Americans in a war, more than all other fought out wars of them together until now.
The U.S. expansive-aggressive foreign policy develops
From 1823 to 1867 the U.S.A expanded (e.g. buy Florida from Spain, Texas joins the Union, 1846 –
1848 war against Mexico => U.S. gets Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California and New Mexico out of the
war, 1867 Alaska was bought from Russia).
Until 1898 the United States respected the existing colonies of European countries on the American
continent. But this attitude changed when a mysterious explosion sank the U.S. battleship Maine in the
harbour of Havana. The destruction of the Maine was one of a series of incidents that triggered the
United States’ intervention in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, which had begun in
1895. In January 1898, partly as a conciliatory (versöhnlich) gesture to the Spanish authorities there and
partly to protect the lives and property of U.S. citizens presumably endangered by recent riots, the
Maine was sent to Havana harbour. On February 15 an explosion sank the ship. The exact cause of the
disaster was never firmly established, though Spain offered to submit the question of its responsibility to
arbitration (Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit). Nevertheless, certain U.S. newspapers seized upon the incident
and coined the popular slogan, “Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!” in an effort to whip up public
Political System of the USA
History
sentiment in favour of armed intervention, which followed in April.
After only 10 weeks the war ended and Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. This was
the first time that the U.S.A. went beyond (überschreiten) the Monroe Doctrine by having reached for the
Philippines and by spreading their influence to Asia.
Short conclusion why the U.S. became the worlds superpower
So America dropped the defensive concept of the Monroe doctrine and started to follow its expansiveaggressive foreign policy, which can be explained in their own development process. The European
emigrants cultivated, evangelised and conquered firstly North America and followed their ideas of
freedom and democracy. After having finished the conquest of their “own” continent, they direct their
expansion urge towards overseas. Imperialism and interventionism are being explained with their
evangelised task to bring the world freedom and democracy and their strong believe that they are
superior to other nations. This spirit let the U.S. rise to the single superpower of the world.
Design of the
Political System
Political System of the USA
Design / Constitution
Political System of the USA
Sources of U.S. Constitution
The contribution of ancient Athens to American democracy
Ancient Athens is often referred to as the cradle of democracy. The Athenians developed a
unique system of government in which citizens were allowed to take part in the decision-making
process. So ancient Athens contributed the idea of democracy to the American constitution
John Locke's contribution to American democracy
He was a British philosopher who rejected the idea that Kings had a divine right to rule. Instead,
Locke developed a theory which argued that people are the source of power. Locke argued that
people are born with certain "natural" or "inalienable" rights. These include the right to "life, liberty
and property." Government did not give people these rights; rather they are born with them and as
such, no government can take them away. According to Locke, people formed governments to
protect their rights. People enter into what he called a "social contract." Under this contract, people
agreed to obey the government who in return, had the responsibility to protect peoples' natural rights.
Locke also argued that if the government failed to protect our natural rights, then the people had the
right to replace the government. Locke's ideas became very influential in developing democratic
ideas. Thomas Jefferson, in writing the Declaration of Independence, drew heavily from the writings
of John Locke.
Contribution of the Mayflower Compact to American democracy.
One of the early steps toward democracy in America was taken abroad the Mayflower by the Pilgrims
in 1620. Shortly before their arrival, the colonists agreed on a set of laws that would govern their
Plymouth colony in Massachusetts.
These laws, which came to be known as the Mayflower Compact, in essence,
stated that the government would make "just laws and equal" with the consent
of the colonists
Political System of the USA
Sources of U.S. Constitution
Contribution of the English Bill of Rights to American democracy.
In 1688 a peaceful revolution, known as the glorious revolution took place in England. To prevent
further abuse by the monarchy, Parliament forced them to sign an historical document called the
English Bill of Rights. This document guaranteed certain basic rights to the people and included the
following:
▪ The King cannot pass or suspend laws without the consent of Parliament
▪ The people must have the right to petition the King
▪ Only Parliament could authorize the keeping of an army during peacetime
▪ Certain people should have the right to bear arms
▪ Excessive bail or fines should not be imposed; nor cruel or unjust punishment be meted out
Note that the Bill of Rights began by listing the grievances of the nobles against the King. Similarly,
the American colonists began the Declaration of Independence by listing their grievances against
their British King George. Bear also in mind that the rights won by the nobles later became a part of
the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Contribution of the Magna Carta to American Democracy.
In 1215, a group of English nobles, demanded from King John, certain rights. They forced the King to
sign the Magna Carta, which recognized certain rights for these nobles. This was an historical
achievement for the English nobles and 500 hundred years later the American colonists were to use
this example to demand their rights from the British King. Among other things,
the Magna Carta gave 1215 to the British nobles the right of jury trial, protection
of private property, limits on taxation, certain religious freedoms.
Political System of the USA
elect
Elections and Voting
President
Vice President
(voted for 4 Years)
nominates
nominates
(upon approval
by the Senat)
Government
Electorals
Senat
(voted for
6 Years)
House of
Representatitves
(voted for
2 Years
Congress
elect
elect
People
Supreme
Court
Executive
Legislative
Surveille of the
constitutionality
Political System of the USA
The executive branch
The executive branch
The Federal executive branch is headed by the President and consists of various entities and
organizations of largely an administrative, regulatory, or policy-implementing character. The
Prsident is elected to a four year term. As a result of a 1951 constitutional amendment, a president
may be elected to only two terms. The president's power is big but not unlimited. As the chief
formulator of national policy, the president proposes legislation to Congress and may veto any bill
passed by Congress. He has the right to to fill temporarily all vacancies that occur during the
recess of the Senate. The president is commander-in-chief of all the armed forces.
President George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, presides over the executive
branch, which includes 15 executive departments, the Executive Office of the President and
numerous other independent agencies. The heads of the departments, chosen by the President
and approved by the Senate, form a council of advisers known as the President's Cabinet.
Political System of the USA
The legislative branch
The legislative Branch
The legislative branch, the Congress with its two houses, is made up of elected representatives from
each of the 50 states. The legislative is the only branch of U.S. government that can make federal
laws, declare war and put foreign treaties into effect.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two year terms. Each member represents a
district in his or her home state. Senators are elected to six year terms, staggered so that one third
of the Senate stands for election every two years. The vice-president is, so written in the
constitution, the president of the Senate. He has no vote, except in the case of a tie.
To become a law, a bill must pass both the House and the Senate. After the bill is introduced, it is
studied by one or more committees and discussed in the chamber of the House or Senate. If
passed, it goes to the other for consideration. Once both bodies have passed the same version of
a bill, it goes to the president for approval.
Political System of the USA
The judicial branch
The judicial branch
The judicial branch is headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is the only court specifically created
by the Constitution. In addition, Congress has established 13 federal courts of appeals and 95 federal
district courts. The president has the authority to appoint federal judges as vacancies occur, including
justices of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court meets in Washington, D.C., and the other federal
courts are located in cities throughout the United States.
The federal courts hear cases arising out of the Constitution, federal laws and treaties and maritime
cases; cases involving foreign citizens or governments; and cases, in which the federal government is
itself a party. With minor exceptions, cases come to the Supreme Court on appeal from lower
courts. Most of these cases involve disputes over the interpretation and constitutionality of actions
taken by the executive branch and of laws passed by Congress or the states.
Political System of the USA
Electoral System
Electoral System
The President and Vice President of the United States are chosen every four years, by a majority
vote of presidential electors who are elected by popular vote in each state. Candidates for
Presidency, Vice Presidency and the office of elector represent the major political parties, which
are automatically accorded ballot access in all of the States, while minor party candidates must
satisfy various State requirements.
•
Indirect election
•
People vote their “Electoral” from the party they want to support.
– No Senator or Representative, or person holding an office in trust or profit under the
United States shall be appointed an elector (everyone else can!)
•
The elected persons are named “Electoral College”.
•
538 representatives are in the “Electoral College” (same number as they have in the Senate &
House of Representatives & 3 members for the District of Columbia).
•
These representatives vote for the President (They are ought to vote for the candidate winning the
most popular votes in their state)
•
“Who wins, takes it all” (except two states: Nebraska & Main), Party who wins the most electors,
takes all the Electoral’s to the President-Election in December (second Wednesday in December).
•
The Majority of 270 Electoral’s is sufficient to get President.
•
Electoral College Deadlock: No Candidate receives the required electoral college majority, then
the House of Representatives elects the President.
•
Reason:
Roots can be traced back to the past, where the states did not have
national medias, so the voters were not able to know the candidate for
the president election. People only knew their representatives, but not
the nominated candidates.
Political System of the USA
Political Parties
Political Parties
Today, there are two major political parties in the United States, the Democratic and the
Republican.
Both major parties have supporters among a wide variety of Americans and embrace a wide range
of political views. Americans do not have to join a political party to vote or to be a candidate for
public office, but running for office without the money and campaign workers a party can provide is
difficult.
After the 2002 congressional and local elections, just two of the 435 representatives in the U.S.
House of Representatives were independents. At the state level only 21 (.003 percent) of more
than 7,300 state legislators were elected as other than Republicans or Democrats. It is the two
major parties that organize and dominate government at both the national and state levels.
Conclusions
Political System of the USA
Conclusions / Strengths
Strengths
• Stable political system
• Free market economy / free trade
• “Equal chances“  good performance –
good live
• “Country with the unlimited possibilities“
• Innovative country (Reasearch, Inventions,
etc.)
• Economic growth
Political System of the USA
Conclusions / Weaknesses
Weaknesses
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Social welfare system
Just two big parties  no diversity in ideology
Strong involved medias in the political fights
Expensive election campaign
Strong lobbying  election campaign & decision making
“Electoral College“  antiquated voting system
Rejection of international laws, contracts, associations
 Weaknesses in social responsiblity
Political System of the USA
Conclusions / Future
Future impacts on the political system
• Immigration of Latin Americans and Asians
– Increasing electorate
• Focussing on South America and Asia – role of Europe?
• Importance of religion
• Development of the Atlantic divide between Europe and
the U.S.A.
• Impacts of the engagement in iraq  government deficit