Title: The United States: American Politics in the Comparative Perspective
1The United States American Politics in the
Comparative Perspective
- Kelly Walker
- AP Comparative
- Government
2The United States
- Federal System- National government shares power
with states, cities, and other jurisdictions - Separation of Powers A system of checks and
balances ensures that the three branches of
government are kept separate
3The United States
- Classified as a weak state
- Reasons
- Politicians must compromise on all policy
matters, difficult to act in a rapid and decisive
manner - Stalls the system
- Presidential System
4The United States Difficult to Define
- Political Culture Based on the rule of law and
civil society-follow the rules - Decline in civic engagement (politics, churches,
interest groups, etc.) - Decrease in trust of politicians
- Widespread acceptance of the regime
- Americans criticize politicians, rarely the
constitution, or the regime
5The United States An Overview
- Established democratic institutions smoothly
- Strict separation of church and state
- Issues
- Manifest Destiny
- Civil War
- Industrialization
- Suffrage
- 1872/John Gast American Progress. Allegorical
representation of Manifest Destiny. Here
Columbia, intended as a personification of the
United States, leads civilization westward with
American settlers, stringing telegraph wire as
she travels she holds a schoolbook.. The Indians
and wild animals flee.
6The United States A Brief History
- After the Revolution
- Articles of Confederation ineffective
- Allowed each state to set tariffs
- Caused Violence
- 1787 Constitution goals
- Centralize the government
- Protection against the arbitrary exercise of
power - Economic Liberalism- (Adam Smith)
- advocates minimal
- interference by government
- in the economy.
7The United States Factions
- No way to avoid them
- One group eventually dominates tyranny of the
majority - Solution Concentrate power in a central
government and developed a totally new system
(presidential) - System based on Compromise and incremental change
(checks and balances)
8The United States Bill of Rights
- Ensured civil liberties
- Established relations between central government
and the states - Separated the church
9The United States
- The Industrial Revolution created an
interventionist state - Developed anti-trust laws, not welfare programs
- New Deal-expanded the national and state
governments - Never developed a strong socialist party
10The United States American Political Culture
- Three Trends
- Few question the regime
- Accept the idea of a weak state
- Individualism If you dont make it, its your
own fault
11The United States Civic Culture
- Paradox
- Individuals believe they can impact the system,
but fail to vote or join a political party. - Functional apathy- allows leaders more power to
govern - Result
- Faith in politicians declines
12The United States Parties and Elections
- 2 party system Democrats and Republicans
- Parties are weak- set up at the state level and
does not chose its own candidates for office
(hold primaries) - Both parties have become catch-all parties
- First past the post system
- Electoral college chooses the president
13The United States Social Movements
- New Left (1960s) promoted civil rights/ opposed
the Vietnam War/environment/feminism/gay and
lesbian rights. Middle class - New Right (1980s) Oppose legalized
abortion/multicultural education/undermining of
American values. Evangelical Christians/Reagan
Democrats
14The United States The Legislative Process
- President appoints four thousand appointments to
policy making positions - Result many are not qualified and difficult to
streamline authority (Homeland Security) - Once the executive branch agrees on proposed
legislation, it has to persuade congress
15The United States The Legislative Process
- Bicameral legislature
- House of Representatives (435) lower house
- Senate (100) upper house
- Both sides must agree on legislation
16The United States Legislative Process
President
House Of Representatives
Senate
Committees And Subcommittees
Committees And subcommittees
Rules Committee
Floor debate And vote
Floor debate and Vote
Conference Committee
17The United States The Legislative Process
- How do members of Congress vote on legislation?
- Party Lines
- Influence from the president
- Peer influence
- Constituents influence
- Own views
18The United States
- Other factors which the US to be classified as a
weak state - Bureaucracy Appointees are not experts
- Judicial Review Allows non-elected judges to
change policy - Federal System Shares power-difficult for
national government to impose national standards
19The United States Shift toward a Consensus
Policy?
- Consensus policy making Decision- making
procedures that emphasize win/win outcomes.
20The United States and Public Policy
- In comparison to other pluralist nations, the
United States - Does not have universal health care
- Offers Low unemployment and pension payments
- Has difficulty in coordinating economic and
social policy (control of interest groups)