TEXT 9. US Political System
TEXT 8. Washington, D.C.
The United States is a federal union which is made up of fifty states and one independent district – the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA, Washington, with its own laws and regulations. Washington D.C. is situated on both banks the Potomac River, between the two states, Maryland and Virginia.
This place was chosen by the first American President George Washington. The plot of land of a hundred square miles was bought from private owners by the state. In 1790 George Washington laid the corner-stone of the Capitol where the Congress sits. The place was called the District of Columbia in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America. The capital got the name of Washington after the name of its founder. Washington has been the capital since 1800.
Washington is sometimes called the heart of America. It is the place where the federal government works and where each President of the United States lives. Washington is smaller in size than the largest cities of the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles. The population of Washington is about 11 million people. The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building must be taller than the Capitol. But in political sense Washington is the center of the country and the most important city of the United States.
Answer the questions:
1. How many parts is the USA made up of?
2. What is the District of Columbia?
3. How was Washington D.C. founded?
4. Where is Washington situated?
5. What is Washington famous for?
6. Why the buildings in Washington are not very tall?
7. In what sense is Washington the most important city in the USA?
The USA is a presidential republic.
The legislative power of the USA is vested in the Congress of the USA. The Congress was created by Article I of the Constitution adopted in 1787. It consists of two chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate is made up of 100 members (2 from each state), elected for a term of 6 years. One third of the Senate is elected every 2 years. To be elected a Senator, a person must be at least 30 years old and have been the citizen of the USA for at least 9 years.
The House of Representatives comprises representatives of each state, elected for a two-year term. The number of representatives from each state depends on it population, but every state is represented. To be elected a representative, a person must be at least 25 years of age and have been a citizen of the USA for at least 7 years.
The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the house. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.
The Congress assembles at least once a year.
The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President’s term of office is four years, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads of ten executive departments: Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secr4etary of Defense and others.
The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it is contradicts the Constitution of the USA.
The United States is the federal Union, and the President is the head of the Federal government which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and the state government headed by the Governor and managing their local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA.
The US national flag – Stars and Stripes – is red, white and blue. Thirteen stripes represent the original 13 states of the US; the 50 stars represent the current number of states.
Answer the questions:
1. What is the legislative power in the USA vested in?
2. What kind of person may be elected a senator?
3. How is a representative elected?
4. Who are the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives?
5. How does the executive branch of the government function?
6. What is the judicial branch of the government headed by?
7. What are the functions of state government?
8. What does the US national flag represent?