United States:National/Federal Positions/ Office
From People for Open Government, Transparency in Federal, State, City & Local Municipalities
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[edit] UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
[edit] Brief Overview
United States of America’s federal government is the body that bears out the functions assigned to the confederacy of individual states founded by the Constitution of the United States. Its pronouncement of its Independence and its Constitution form the establishment of the United States federal government. The Declaration of Independence establishes the United States as an independent political unit, while the Constitution produces the basic structure of the federal government. Both documents are on display in the National Archives and Records Administration Building in Washington, D. C.
The U.S. government’s activities and influence reach every country of this world. U.S. is always composed of President, Congress, & the Supreme Court, as the representative of the 3 branches of U.S. government; executive, legislative, and judiciary. The President is the head executive & chief of state. He/she resides in the white house in Washington, D.C. once he/she is elected, and he/she has offices there.
The president, as the head executive of the government, has the responsibilities of imposing federal laws, appointing and removing high federal officials. He/she has the power to command the armed forces, conducts foreign affairs, recommends laws to Congress, and often appoints American representatives to International organizations and to diplomatic missions in other lands. He/she performs many ceremonial duties.
The Congress is consists of the Senate & House of Representatives. It formulates, repeals, and amends federal laws. It also levies federal taxes and appropriates funds for the government.
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land. It is made up of a chief justice and 8 associate justices. The president appoints all justices with the approval of the senate. The justices hold office for life.
American government has principles. The constitution separates the powers of the United States government among its branches. Each branch is generally independent of the other two, and has the authority to check or balance the others. A written constitution provides the basis of government in the U.S. A written constitution is a unique American contribution. The constitution divides powers and duties between the federal and state governments, and it also specifies the powers of each branch of the national government. It does not only grant powers, but also limits them.
Judicial review confines the state and national government within their constitutional limits. It is the method used to answer the basic question: who is to say what the constitution means in cases of dispute? Popular sovereignty allows the American people to change the constitution. A proposed amendment must have the approval of two-thirds of both the senate and the House of Representatives.
American people have a strong voice in their government. They can exercise their democratic rights by voting in national, state, and local elections, and by working in political parties and campaigns, the Democratic and the Republican. Members of these two parties hold almost all the offices in the national state and local government.
National Elections to elect president & vice-president are held every four years on the first Tuesday of November (after its first Monday). Federal and state laws regulate elections and the qualification of voters. The President is not elected directly by the people. At presidential elections, voters cast their votes for electors. The electors make up the Electoral College, which officially elects the president.
| Categories: National/Federal Positions/ Office | Positions & Offices | Officers & Elected Officials | United States Election |
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