Can somebody explain how the American political system works.?

Question

You have Presidential elections. Then there's Congress and Senate. How are congressmen and senators chosen? What are the powers and functions of Congress and Senate? I understand that it's a bicameral system like the British House of Commons and House of Lords. Here in NZ in 1996 we switched from a first past the post system like the American one in which one party is the Government, even if it only has a tiny majority. In our new system most governments are coalitions.

Answer 1

Section 8 of Article One of the United States Constitution sets forth the powers of Congress. The most important powers are the powers to levy and collect taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, coin money, establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and copyrights, fix standards of weights and measures, establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court, raise and maintain the armed forces, declare war, and "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers".

There are additional powers other parts of the Constitution grant. For instance, Congress has the power to admit new states to the Union (Article Four). Other powers have been granted, or confirmed, by constitutional amendments.

Congress has the power to break deadlocks in the electoral college. If no presidential candidate achieves an electoral majority, the House may elect the President from the three candidates with the highest numbers of electoral votes. Similarly, if no vice presidential candidate achieves an electoral majority, the Senate may elect the Vice President from the two candidates with the highest numbers of electoral votes. Several of the members of the Constitutional Convention expected that, while George Washington would be overwhelmingly elected as first President under the Constitution, selection by the House would be the normal method after him.

The "necessary and proper clause" of the Constitution permits Congress to make "all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution" its other powers and the rest of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has interpreted the necessary and proper clause broadly, which has permitted the Congress wide authority.

One of the foremost non-legislative functions of the Congress is the power to investigate and to oversee the executive branch. This power is usually delegated to committees—standing committees, special committees, select committees, or joint committees composed of members of both houses. Investigations are conducted to gather information on the need for future legislation, to test the effectiveness of laws already passed, and to inquire into the qualifications and performance of members and officials of the other branches. Committees may hold hearings, and, if necessary, compel individuals to testify by issuing subpoenas. Witnesses who refuse to testify may be cited for contempt of Congress, and those who testify falsely may be charged with perjury. Most committee hearings are open to the public; important hearings are widely reported in the mass media.

Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution places certain limits of congressional authority. For instance, Congress may not suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus (except in extreme cases of rebellion or invasion), pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws, or grant titles of nobility. Several other restrictions are specified by constitutional amendments, especially the Bill of Rights. The last clause of the Bill of Rights, the Tenth Amendment, provides that "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."


The House of Representatives consists of 435 members representing the fifty states. Seats are apportioned among the states on the basis of population, but every state, regardless of size, is guaranteed at least one seat. Representatives are directly elected by single-member constituencies known as congressional districts. Each state may draw the boundaries of its districts, subject to certain legal requirements; for instance, districts must have approximately equal populations. Representatives serve for two-year terms.

Answer 2

House of Representatives are elected by voters in their districts (within a State), and Senators are elected by voters within the state. So...House members represent the people of certain towns, counties, etc that make up a district; and Senators represent the people within a certain State.

Congress is the legislative branch of our government, meaning they propose and make laws. The Executive Branch, the President, executes the laws inacted by the legislature, and the Judicial Branch, the courts, interprets the laws inacted by the legislature - and decides wether or not they are constitutional. These three branches of government check and balance each other - ensuring that no branch holds more power than the other (until Bush - who has amassed more power in the Executive branch than any other President).

Answer 3

In the US, the super rich people do what they want regardless of which party is in office. That's what the "liberals" and "neocons" who keep bashing each other seem to miss.

The pretense of a democracy is just a spectacle to make the people feel like we have some say. We don't. We're an oligarchy or plutocracy in the US, not a democracy.

(I'm sure I'll get at least one disgruntled response telling me to pack my bags and leave if I don't like it) The "America: Love It Or Leave It" argument is anti-democratic to the core.

Answer 4

yes three things, lie cheat steal and sit around for 4- 8 years leave and collect a nice fat [pension, play golf wear fancy clothes eat steaks lobsters, beats kraft macaroni cheesee, live in a nice big mansion, and ride atround in a limo or snap your fingers and sit in a foreighn country etc, the ultimate job, do nothing eat lobsters, leave with a nice nice fat pension etc, hmm!!

Answer 5

Basically we elect people to represent us and then we get screwed. :)

Answer 6

It doesn't.

Answer 7

it doesnt work