THE AMERICAN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM POLITICAL SYSTEM && THE PRESIDENTTHE PRESIDENT

The U.S.A. is a Federal Union of 50 states and the district of Columbia (the seat of government). The government is based on the constitution, a short document written about 200 years ago after the “War of Independence” from Britain.The constitution provides for three equal and independent branches of Govern:•The LEGISLATIVE branch (Congress) made up of the Senate (100 senators) and the house of representatives (435 members) elected every two years.•The JUDICIAL branch (the Supreme Court);•The EXECUTIVE branch presided over by the president.

THE AMERICAN FLAGTHE AMERICAN FLAG

The American flag is composed of thirteen horizontal stripes (seven red and six white).The American flag is composed of thirteen horizontal stripes (seven red and six white).On the top left corner there are fifty white stars on a blue background.On the top left corner there are fifty white stars on a blue background. The stars represent the present states of U.S.A. and the stripes the original states.The stars represent the present states of U.S.A. and the stripes the original states.The flag is named «stars and stripes».The flag is named «stars and stripes».

The President of the USA is elected by the people every four years and he can be re-elected for another term.A President must:•be a natural-born citizen of the United States•have been a permanent Resident in United States for at least fourteen years;•be at least thirty-five years old. Theodore Roosevelt ,42, was the youngest president. Ronald Reagan ,69, was the oldest president.

THE PRESIDENT THE PRESIDENT (PART 2)(PART 2)

His Powers include:•Creating a Cabinet of advisors;•Giving pardons or reprieves;•Enforcing laws passed by the United States Congress.

With the agreement of the United States Senate he or she can:•Make treaties;•Choose ambassadors to Abroad;•Select Judges, and Justices of the supreme Court.

The United States Congress

Washington D.C.

What is the Congress?What is the Congress?

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States consisting of two the federal government of the United States consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the Capitol in Washington D.C. Both houses Congress meets in the Capitol in Washington D.C. Both houses are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a gubernatorial appointment. Members are may be filled by a gubernatorial appointment. Members are usually affiliated to the Republican Party or to the Democratic usually affiliated to the Republican Party or to the Democratic Party, and only rarely to a third-party or as independents. Party, and only rarely to a third-party or as independents. Congress has 535 voting members: 435 Representatives and 100 Congress has 535 voting members: 435 Representatives and 100 SenatorsSenators

Who are the members of the Congress?Who are the members of the Congress?

The members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms The members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms representing the people of a single constituency, known as a "district".representing the people of a single constituency, known as a "district".Congressional districts are divided to states by population using Congressional districts are divided to states by population using the United States Census results, the United States Census results, even ifeven if each state has at least one each state has at least one congressional representative. Each state, regardless of population or congressional representative. Each state, regardless of population or size, has two senators. size, has two senators. Currently, there are 100 senators representing the 50 states. Each Currently, there are 100 senators representing the 50 states. Each senator is elected in his or her state for a six-year term, with terms senator is elected in his or her state for a six-year term, with terms staggered, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is staggered, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election.up for election.

The White House is the official residence of the president and his family, and the main office of the US presidentHis story begins with the design by dell'architett James Hoban, who designed a sumptuous villa whose main theme was the oval shape of the two lounges and an orderly neoclassic English inspiration.Work began in 1792 and ended in 1800 when the president died washngton,was hit by fire by the British in 1814 acausa the war between British-American then it was always rebuilt by James HobanThe White House has 132 roomsIt now houses the president Barak Obama

The Pentagon is the headquarter of the US Department of Defense and it is located in Washington is Washington . It is the symbol of US military power and this includes all of the US Armed Forces, Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force . It is the largest office building in the world and one of the largest area. It has the shape of a regular pentagon with five levels, two of which are underground, and five concentric pentagonal structure, for a total of 28 km of corridors. In the center of the Pentagon there is an open space of about 20.000 square meten, known as the"Ground Zero” during the Cold War, when the Pentagon was one of the main targets of Soviet nuclear missiles.

The Capitol (in English United States Capitol) is the official seat of the two

houses of the US Congress. The building is located in Washington DC, on the hill of Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall.

Since the ratification of the US Constitution, Congress had met in two buildings in two different cities. The capital was first provisionally located in New York, where the Congress met in the City Hall (now Federal Hall) from 1785 to 1790.

Since the ratification of the US Constitution, Congress had met in two buildings in two different cities. The capital was first provisionally located in New York, where the Congress met in the City Hall (now Federal Hall) from 1785 to 1790. After the capital was moved to Philadelphia from 1790 to 1800. During this time the Congress met at ' inside the Philadelphia County Building (Congress Hall). Once it was decided the ex novo foundation of a Federal capital proceeded to urban planning. The planning officer in the District of Columbia was the French-born architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who was acting under the control of a committee.

Political scientists and historians have divided the development of America in two party system: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.Several third parties also operated in the US, and in 1980s she Libertarian Party Republican party was founded by anti-slavery activists, the Republicans dominated politics nationally and in the states of northern majority.There were 18 Republican presidents, the first being Abraham Lincoln and the most recent being George W. Bush.