Politics in the United States

Population 316 million Territory 3,475,031 square miles Year of Independence 1776 Year of Current Constitution September 17, 1787, effective March 4, 1789 Head of State President Joe Biden Languages English, Spanish (spoken by a sizeable minority) Religions Protestant 50 percent, Roman Catholic 25 percent, Muslim 1 percent, Mormon 1 percent, Jewish 1 percent, none or not stated 20 percent

The United States is a federal constitutional republic. Power is divided between a central/national government and the States. The national government is referred to as the Federal Government.

Legislative Branch Congress Make laws House of Representatives (435 members) Senate (100 members) House can propose tax laws House can impeach the President Representatives must be 25 years old, Representatives must be a citizen for 7 years. Representatives serve a 2 – year term. Senate can improve Presindential appointments Senate approves treaties with foreign governments Senate tries President after impeachment Members must be 30 – year old Members serve a 6 – year term

Executive branch President, Vice – President, Cabinet Enforces Laws Must be 35 years old Must be a US citizen by birth. Must be a US resident for 14 years President has power to approve/ veto laws Must make treaties with foreign government President nominates judges to Supreme Court

Supreme Court and Federal Courts Interprets Laws Serve for life Can declare laws unconstitutional Can settle disputes involving the US Chief Justice of The Supreme Court presides over the Impeachment trial of the President

Central Documents The declaration of Independence (1776), The Constitution (1787), The Federalist Papers (1788), The Bill of Rights (1791), Lincolns Gettysburg Address (1863)

The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property.

The powers of the federal government are limited by the Constitution which leaves a great deal of authority to the individual states.

The modern political party system in the United States is a two-party system dominated by the Democratic Party and the republican Party. These two parties have won every United States presidential election since 1852 and have controlled the United States Congress since at least Several other third parties from time to time achieve relatively minor representation at the national and state levels.

Democratic Party The partys socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United States, and is one of the oldest political parties in the world. Joe Biden is the 15 th Democrat to hold the office of President of the United States.

Republican Party Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP (Grand Old Party). The partys platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S. political spectrum and is considered center-right.

Major Third Parties The Constitution Party is a conservative United States political party. The Constitution Party advocates a platform that they believe reflects the Founding Fathers original intent of the U.S. Constitution, principles found in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and morals taken from the Bible.

The Green Party Has been active as a third party since the 1980s. Greens emphasize environmentalism, non- hierarchical participatory democracy, social justice, respect for diversity, peace and nonviolence.

Was founded on December 11,1971, the political Platform of the Libertarian Party reflects that groups Particular brand of Libertarianism, favoring Minimally regulated, laissez- Faire markets, strong civil Liberties, minimally regulated Migration across borders, And non-interventionism in Foreign policy that respects Freedom of trade and travel To all foreign countries.