Case Study Sample. United States. Government Basics. Republican government with 3 coequal branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial. Branches. Power shared between central government: “United States of America” based in Washington DC and 50 subnational governments or “states” dividing the.... ID: 753830
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Presentations text content in The United States of America
Slide1
The United States of America
Case Study Sample
Slide2
United States
Government Basics
Republican government with 3 coequal branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Branches
Power shared between central government: “United States of America” based in Washington DC and 50 subnational governments or “states” dividing the territory and population unequally
Federalism
Slide3
United States
Geography
3
rd
largest country by land mass
Land mass
Vast resources including: farmland, oil, coal,
Resources
Covers half of North America, low population density
Stretches from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean
2 states isolated and several “territories” controlled overseas
Slide4
United States
Demographics
Ethnicity
Slide5
United States
Demographics
Religion
Slide6
United States
Demographics
Languages
Slide7
Development of the State
United States
Slide8
United States
Critical Junctures
English colonies fight war to break away from British control
American Revolution
Initial experiments with confederation prevent govt from implementing foreign or economic policy
US Constitution in 1788 gives commercial & foreign policy powers to a national govt while protecting states sovereignty for local policies
Created independent executive, independent judiciary, & elected legislature, with limits on citizen control
Slide9
United States
Critical Junctures
Fought over question of whether states or national govt was dominant
Civil War
States thought they could reject laws,
Results established national citizenship that was enforceable in states through 14
th
amendment
Extended the protections of civil liberties to the states as well as national govt & granted suffrage to African Americans
Slide10
United States
Critical Junctures
Response to Great Depression was to expand regulation of business
New Deal
Established several social expenditures
Includes Social Security to benefit elderly, several programs to benefit the poor and working classes
Established dominance of national government in provided services to people over the states
Slide11
United States
Critical Junctures
From 1968 national govt power routinely divided between 2 parties
Divided Govt.
Increases inefficiency and public distrust
Only 5 times since ‘68 has one party controlled presidency and both houses of Congress
Correlated to increased polarization of public political beliefs
Increased focus by interest groups and parties on the few seats that switch from one party to the other
Slide12
United States
Critical Junctures
After 2001 attacks, public support led to increased law enforcement powers
Sept 11 Attacks
Expanded ability to conduct surveillance
Initial international response got widespread global support
As responses expanded, US began to face opposition from its allies
Slide13
United States
Themes
Separation of Powers
Powers split into 3 coequal branches
Puts USA at disadvantage compared to other systems that can react more quickly and decisively
Federalism further slows government action
Slide14
United States
Themes
International Role
Until WW1, isolationism characterized American foreign policy
After WW2, US used more multilateral organizations and military force to shape international relations
It designed multilateral organizations
in a way that gave it a
disproportionate voice
Slide15
United States
Themes
“American Exceptionalism”
The idea that the US is unique & cannot easily be compared to other countries
It’s geography & resources give it advantages few other states can match
Its experience with mass representative democracy is longer than any other
It has expanded its citizenry beyond descendants of original citizens
US Constitution has served as model for many newly independent states
Slide16
Economic
Policy
United States
Slide17
United States
State & Economy
Free market
Laissez faire
The private sector drives economic growth
The absence of government regulation gives entrepreneurs more opportunity to build the nation’s economy
State management of the economy is limited to protecting property rights and enforcement of contracts
Slide18
United States
State & Economy
Regulate interstate commerce
Federal govt has this authority, state & local govts are limited in their ability to regulate the economy
Tries to encourage growth in new industries
Guarantees minimum prices for agricultural commodities
Slide19
United States
State & Economy
Central Banking
The Federal Reserve Board – removed control of the money supply from elected leaders
Control the amount of money in circulation and interest rates
Can buy/sell bonds or alter interest rates to stimulate or discourage consumer demand in economy
Slide20
United States
State & Economy
Promotion of industries
Govt promoted agriculture & industry
Used tariffs to help US products
Built roads and canals to move goods efficiently
More recently, used military force to establish & maintain markets for US produced commodities
Slide21
United States
State & Economy
International economics
Runs large trade deficits – imports way more than it exports
In most states this would cause the dollar to lose some value
The US dollar is the international reserve currency
This increases demand for the dollar
Slide22
United States
Society & Economy
Wealth Distribution
Distribution of wealth & income more unequal in US than other advanced democracies
US tolerates this and politically, gap is used as “incentive” for people at low end
Tax cuts in early 2000s were put in place by Republicans but reauthorized by Democrats – benefitted richest Americans mostly
Slide23
United States
Society & Economy
Taxing
Taxing is progressive – higher incomes pay a higher percentage
Rates range from 0% to 35%
Each worker pays regressive Social Security taxes (Higher % of low incomes)
State & local taxes funded by regressive sales taxes & property taxes
Slide24
United States
Society & Economy
Distributive Policies
Redistributive Policies
Allocate resources to an area that needs to be promoted without impact on income or wealth distribution
Take resources from one group in society and allocate them to a more disadvantaged group in society
Building schools
Health insurance for the poor
Slide25
United States
Society & Economy
Worker protections
Social Security – income for elderly
Medicare – health care for elderly
Minimum wage laws
Unemployment insurance
Insurance against workplace injuries
Social welfare programs
Slide26
United States
Global Economy
International organizations
After WW2, shifted from isolationism to leading role in regulating international economy
Bretton Woods Agreement – set up World Bank & International
Monetary Fund
Regional trade networks – NAFTA
Dominates the international lending agencies, regional defense agencies, and trade organizations – allowing it to play large role in international political economy
Slide27
Governing & Administration
United States
Slide28
United States
State Organization
Basics
A central government operates independently of the states
US Constitution sets up 3 branches & is difficult to amend
Constitution designed a government with clear limits
Designed to be inefficient in policy making – each branch against others
Slide29
United States
Executive
Presidency
Indirectly elected executive
Both head of state and head of govt
Relies on Congress to implement his agenda, cannot control Congress
20
th
Century presidents made use of “bully pulpit” – ability to address nation directly through media
Heads a growing federal bureaucracy
Slide30
United States
Executive
Cabinet
Senior administrators appointed by the president
Has no actual legal standing
Oversees 15 departments of bureaucracy of 2 million civil servants
Slide31
United States
Executive
Bureaucracy
Day to day operations of executive branch
Independent – not directly controlled by president or Congress
Indirectly controlled by Congress who approves their budgets
Often characterized by iron triangle relationships with interest groups and Congress
Slide32
United States
Other Institutions
Military
1.4 million active duty personnel
President is commander in chief
Commanded by non political officer corps
Many of its roles have been transferred to private firms who work under Department of Defense contracts
Slide33
United States
Other Institutions
National Security
Department of Homeland Security coordinates domestic security agencies
Director of National Intelligence – oversees collaboration among intelligence gathering agencies
Slide34
United States
Other Institutions
Judiciary
Review the constitutionality of the acts of government
Relies on the other branches to implement its decisions
Limits standing – right to bring a suit – to those directly involved in action
Serve as venue for groups neglected by democratically elected institutions
Slide35
United States
Other Institutions
Subnational Units
State governments provide services to people more directly
Have ability to experiment with new policies
Local governments are created by the states & can be eliminated
States & local govts have different resources (often based on property taxes)
Leads to vastly different versions of the same services in different states
Slide36
Policy Making
United States
Slide37
United States
Policy
Making Process
Who
Congress has ability to pass policy into law
President plays a role in proposing policies in his annual report
Courts play a role in some policy creation, but are more likely to block policies
Political parties and interest groups developed to formulate and suggest policies
Slide38
United States
Policy
Making Process
Process
Politicians identify policy problems
President attempts to control agenda
Congress drafts policy – often with input from interest groups
Policy passed by Congress and approved by president
Ongoing policy evaluation by groups and media
Slide39
Representation
United States
Slide40
United States
Legislature
Bicameral
House of Representatives allocated by population
Senate gives equal representation for each state
Most commonly made up of highly educated lawyers
House has shorter terms and is more responsive to the people
Slide41
United States
Legislature
Powers
Main powers are legislation and oversight
Control the appropriation of funds for programs each year
Crafts policy through complicated processes
Monitors the implementation of policy by bureaucracy
Slide42
United States
Legislature
Leadership
Led by Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader
Both have control over deciding which bills receive hearings
Have more control over design and oversight of policy than members of European parliaments
Slide43
Participation
United States
Slide44
United States
Political Parties
@Two Party System
Result of nation’s political culture and structure of its election systems
Coalitions of groups fall into two groups
Plurality elections reward large coalition parties and hurt single issue parties
Parties must have national presence and infrastructure to compete in more than 600,000 elections
Slide45
United States
Political Parties
Democrats
Republicans
A coalition of upper income voters, social conservatives, business owners, rural residents, and evangelical Christians
A coalition of urban populations, the elderly, racial & ethnic minorities, unionized labor, and women
Have been unsuccessful increasing support among minority communities
Have been unsuccessful in turning out the vote among their coalition
Coalition more fragile because fiscal conservatives and moral conservatives battle for direction of party
Slide46
United States
Elections
How they work
Follow a regular schedule
States make rules for how elections are conducted and who can participate
States handle voter registration – registration requirement decreases participation
Federal govt forced states to expand the electorate over time
Significantly less turnout in local elections
Slide47
United States
Political Culture
Liberty
Equality
Focus on freedom from restrictions imposed by the government
Emphasis on economic liberty and free enterprise
Equality of opportunity, not equality of result
Even excluded groups over time used equality to organize and demand policy changes
Slide48
United States
Interest Groups
What they do
PACs
Citizens organize into groups that can advocate for policy changes
They use money and professional staff instead of volunteers
Make financial contributions to candidates and political parties
Want to get like minded individuals in office, or make those in office more willing to adopt their policy stances
Slide49
Developing
Political Issues
United States
Slide50
United States
Current Challenges
Minority participation
Much lower share of minority participants in election than the population
“regular voter pool” dominated by older white voters
Latinos are 15% of electorate but 7% of the voters in 2008
African Americans 13% of electorate but 12% of vote in 2008 – which was exception to normal pattern
Slide51
United States
Current Challenges
Changing international role
Must balance their objectives with obligations to international organizations
Domestic institutions hamper quick responses by US, & citizenry doesn’t care much about foreign policy
Slide52
United States
Current Challenges
Commitment to helping poor
Much reduced in era of divided government
Cost of maintaining programs including Social Security are putting long term burden on federal budget
Slide53
United States
Comparative
Political Parties
Community level politics has been in decline since 1950s
Parties which help unify popular opinion and force compromise
are in decline
Being replaced by interest groups who do not seek compromise and promote narrow interests
Citizen participation is becoming more selective & linkages are becoming less broadly based
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DownloadNote - The PPT/PDF document "The United States of America" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Presentations text content in The United States of America
The United States of America
Case Study Sample
Slide2United States
Government Basics
Republican government with 3 coequal branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Branches
Power shared between central government: “United States of America” based in Washington DC and 50 subnational governments or “states” dividing the territory and population unequally
Federalism
Slide3United States
Geography
3
rd
largest country by land mass
Land mass
Vast resources including: farmland, oil, coal,
Resources
Covers half of North America, low population density
Stretches from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean
2 states isolated and several “territories” controlled overseas
Slide4United States
Demographics
Ethnicity
Slide5United States
Demographics
Religion
Slide6United States
Demographics
Languages
Slide7Development of the State
United States
Slide8United States
Critical Junctures
English colonies fight war to break away from British control
American Revolution
Initial experiments with confederation prevent govt from implementing foreign or economic policy
US Constitution in 1788 gives commercial & foreign policy powers to a national govt while protecting states sovereignty for local policies
Created independent executive, independent judiciary, & elected legislature, with limits on citizen control
Slide9United States
Critical Junctures
Fought over question of whether states or national govt was dominant
Civil War
States thought they could reject laws,
Results established national citizenship that was enforceable in states through 14
th
amendment
Extended the protections of civil liberties to the states as well as national govt & granted suffrage to African Americans
Slide10United States
Critical Junctures
Response to Great Depression was to expand regulation of business
New Deal
Established several social expenditures
Includes Social Security to benefit elderly, several programs to benefit the poor and working classes
Established dominance of national government in provided services to people over the states
Slide11United States
Critical Junctures
From 1968 national govt power routinely divided between 2 parties
Divided Govt.
Increases inefficiency and public distrust
Only 5 times since ‘68 has one party controlled presidency and both houses of Congress
Correlated to increased polarization of public political beliefs
Increased focus by interest groups and parties on the few seats that switch from one party to the other
Slide12United States
Critical Junctures
After 2001 attacks, public support led to increased law enforcement powers
Sept 11 Attacks
Expanded ability to conduct surveillance
Initial international response got widespread global support
As responses expanded, US began to face opposition from its allies
Slide13United States
Themes
Separation of Powers
Powers split into 3 coequal branches
Puts USA at disadvantage compared to other systems that can react more quickly and decisively
Federalism further slows government action
Slide14United States
Themes
International Role
Until WW1, isolationism characterized American foreign policy
After WW2, US used more multilateral organizations and military force to shape international relations
It designed multilateral organizations
in a way that gave it a
disproportionate voice
Slide15United States
Themes
“American Exceptionalism”
The idea that the US is unique & cannot easily be compared to other countries
It’s geography & resources give it advantages few other states can match
Its experience with mass representative democracy is longer than any other
It has expanded its citizenry beyond descendants of original citizens
US Constitution has served as model for many newly independent states
Slide16Economic
Policy
United States
Slide17United States
State & Economy
Free market
Laissez faire
The private sector drives economic growth
The absence of government regulation gives entrepreneurs more opportunity to build the nation’s economy
State management of the economy is limited to protecting property rights and enforcement of contracts
Slide18United States
State & Economy
Regulate interstate commerce
Federal govt has this authority, state & local govts are limited in their ability to regulate the economy
Tries to encourage growth in new industries
Guarantees minimum prices for agricultural commodities
Slide19United States
State & Economy
Central Banking
The Federal Reserve Board – removed control of the money supply from elected leaders
Control the amount of money in circulation and interest rates
Can buy/sell bonds or alter interest rates to stimulate or discourage consumer demand in economy
Slide20United States
State & Economy
Promotion of industries
Govt promoted agriculture & industry
Used tariffs to help US products
Built roads and canals to move goods efficiently
More recently, used military force to establish & maintain markets for US produced commodities
Slide21United States
State & Economy
International economics
Runs large trade deficits – imports way more than it exports
In most states this would cause the dollar to lose some value
The US dollar is the international reserve currency
This increases demand for the dollar
Slide22United States
Society & Economy
Wealth Distribution
Distribution of wealth & income more unequal in US than other advanced democracies
US tolerates this and politically, gap is used as “incentive” for people at low end
Tax cuts in early 2000s were put in place by Republicans but reauthorized by Democrats – benefitted richest Americans mostly
Slide23United States
Society & Economy
Taxing
Taxing is progressive – higher incomes pay a higher percentage
Rates range from 0% to 35%
Each worker pays regressive Social Security taxes (Higher % of low incomes)
State & local taxes funded by regressive sales taxes & property taxes
Slide24United States
Society & Economy
Distributive Policies
Redistributive Policies
Allocate resources to an area that needs to be promoted without impact on income or wealth distribution
Take resources from one group in society and allocate them to a more disadvantaged group in society
Building schools
Health insurance for the poor
Slide25United States
Society & Economy
Worker protections
Social Security – income for elderly
Medicare – health care for elderly
Minimum wage laws
Unemployment insurance
Insurance against workplace injuries
Social welfare programs
Slide26United States
Global Economy
International organizations
After WW2, shifted from isolationism to leading role in regulating international economy
Bretton Woods Agreement – set up World Bank & International
Monetary Fund
Regional trade networks – NAFTA
Dominates the international lending agencies, regional defense agencies, and trade organizations – allowing it to play large role in international political economy
Slide27Governing & Administration
United States
Slide28United States
State Organization
Basics
A central government operates independently of the states
US Constitution sets up 3 branches & is difficult to amend
Constitution designed a government with clear limits
Designed to be inefficient in policy making – each branch against others
Slide29United States
Executive
Presidency
Indirectly elected executive
Both head of state and head of govt
Relies on Congress to implement his agenda, cannot control Congress
20
th
Century presidents made use of “bully pulpit” – ability to address nation directly through media
Heads a growing federal bureaucracy
Slide30United States
Executive
Cabinet
Senior administrators appointed by the president
Has no actual legal standing
Oversees 15 departments of bureaucracy of 2 million civil servants
Slide31United States
Executive
Bureaucracy
Day to day operations of executive branch
Independent – not directly controlled by president or Congress
Indirectly controlled by Congress who approves their budgets
Often characterized by iron triangle relationships with interest groups and Congress
Slide32United States
Other Institutions
Military
1.4 million active duty personnel
President is commander in chief
Commanded by non political officer corps
Many of its roles have been transferred to private firms who work under Department of Defense contracts
Slide33United States
Other Institutions
National Security
Department of Homeland Security coordinates domestic security agencies
Director of National Intelligence – oversees collaboration among intelligence gathering agencies
Slide34United States
Other Institutions
Judiciary
Review the constitutionality of the acts of government
Relies on the other branches to implement its decisions
Limits standing – right to bring a suit – to those directly involved in action
Serve as venue for groups neglected by democratically elected institutions
Slide35United States
Other Institutions
Subnational Units
State governments provide services to people more directly
Have ability to experiment with new policies
Local governments are created by the states & can be eliminated
States & local govts have different resources (often based on property taxes)
Leads to vastly different versions of the same services in different states
Slide36Policy Making
United States
Slide37United States
Policy
Making Process
Who
Congress has ability to pass policy into law
President plays a role in proposing policies in his annual report
Courts play a role in some policy creation, but are more likely to block policies
Political parties and interest groups developed to formulate and suggest policies
Slide38United States
Policy
Making Process
Process
Politicians identify policy problems
President attempts to control agenda
Congress drafts policy – often with input from interest groups
Policy passed by Congress and approved by president
Ongoing policy evaluation by groups and media
Slide39Representation
United States
Slide40United States
Legislature
Bicameral
House of Representatives allocated by population
Senate gives equal representation for each state
Most commonly made up of highly educated lawyers
House has shorter terms and is more responsive to the people
Slide41United States
Legislature
Powers
Main powers are legislation and oversight
Control the appropriation of funds for programs each year
Crafts policy through complicated processes
Monitors the implementation of policy by bureaucracy
Slide42United States
Legislature
Leadership
Led by Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader
Both have control over deciding which bills receive hearings
Have more control over design and oversight of policy than members of European parliaments
Slide43Participation
United States
Slide44United States
Political Parties
@Two Party System
Result of nation’s political culture and structure of its election systems
Coalitions of groups fall into two groups
Plurality elections reward large coalition parties and hurt single issue parties
Parties must have national presence and infrastructure to compete in more than 600,000 elections
Slide45United States
Political Parties
Democrats
Republicans
A coalition of upper income voters, social conservatives, business owners, rural residents, and evangelical Christians
A coalition of urban populations, the elderly, racial & ethnic minorities, unionized labor, and women
Have been unsuccessful increasing support among minority communities
Have been unsuccessful in turning out the vote among their coalition
Coalition more fragile because fiscal conservatives and moral conservatives battle for direction of party
Slide46United States
Elections
How they work
Follow a regular schedule
States make rules for how elections are conducted and who can participate
States handle voter registration – registration requirement decreases participation
Federal govt forced states to expand the electorate over time
Significantly less turnout in local elections
Slide47United States
Political Culture
Liberty
Equality
Focus on freedom from restrictions imposed by the government
Emphasis on economic liberty and free enterprise
Equality of opportunity, not equality of result
Even excluded groups over time used equality to organize and demand policy changes
Slide48United States
Interest Groups
What they do
PACs
Citizens organize into groups that can advocate for policy changes
They use money and professional staff instead of volunteers
Make financial contributions to candidates and political parties
Want to get like minded individuals in office, or make those in office more willing to adopt their policy stances
Slide49Developing
Political Issues
United States
Slide50United States
Current Challenges
Minority participation
Much lower share of minority participants in election than the population
“regular voter pool” dominated by older white voters
Latinos are 15% of electorate but 7% of the voters in 2008
African Americans 13% of electorate but 12% of vote in 2008 – which was exception to normal pattern
Slide51United States
Current Challenges
Changing international role
Must balance their objectives with obligations to international organizations
Domestic institutions hamper quick responses by US, & citizenry doesn’t care much about foreign policy
Slide52United States
Current Challenges
Commitment to helping poor
Much reduced in era of divided government
Cost of maintaining programs including Social Security are putting long term burden on federal budget
Slide53United States
Comparative
Political Parties
Community level politics has been in decline since 1950s
Parties which help unify popular opinion and force compromise
are in decline
Being replaced by interest groups who do not seek compromise and promote narrow interests
Citizen participation is becoming more selective & linkages are becoming less broadly based
Slide54Wrap Up
States
Slide55Main Ideas
United States
Domestic Political Institutions
Remember this… PLEASE
Transitioning Mediating Institutions
Domestic policy making structure
Vs. international role