Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The American
Political System
- The American Constitution
- 1776: Declaration of Independence
- separates the executive, the legislature and the judiciary powers
- Constitution cannot be changed - just adding amendments
- 1787: 39 delegates from the original 13 colonies signed the new Constitution
- 1791: the Bill of RIghts was added (guaranteed the main civil liberties in the US)
- 10 amendments
- freedom of speech, press and assembly
- freedom and security of citizens
- rights of equal justice
- freedom of religion and petition
- the American government
- a system of "checks and balances" = the different parts of the
government have powers that affect and control the other parts so
that no part can become too powerful
- the President
- executive power
- head of state and head of government
- Election
- every 4 years
- Election Day: Tuesday after the first Monday in November
- Super Tuesday: the date in the U.S. presidential primary process
when the greatest number of states hold their contests. In 2016,
March 1 was Super Tuesday, with both Democrats and
Republicans holding primaries in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia,
Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and
Virginia, and caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota.
- primary = residents cast their ballots;
caucus = a local gathering where voters
openly decide which candidate to support.
- the Political Parties
- the Democratic Party
- the Donkey
- the Republican Party
- the Elephant
- majority vote