what is so unique about the American Constitution and way of doing government?

Question

What is unique about the political culture in the United States? Likes / dislikes about American politics?

Answer 1

It's not really unique. It may have been the first to do some things, but very little is unheard of in other countries.

The US Constitution sets itself up as the primary authority, not subject to (easy) override by the legislature. That's uncommon, but not unique.

Parliamentary govts -- where the executives are chosen by the legislature -- are more common than presidential models, but we're not the only country with a president.

Separation of powers is common, though many different systems implement the balances in their own way.

The biggest problem with American politics is not the way the govt is structured -- it is the way the system has been abused by the politicians (for decades) to keep them in power at the expense of the American people, and to be able to shut out minority parties almost entirely.

Answer 2

When it was first written, the Constitution was unique precisely because it was written down. It was based on the British 'Constitution' which was not a document at all, but a body of traditions and unwritten laws that had slowly evolved since Magna Carta, as first the nobility, then the common people gained more and more rights and protections from the power of the Crowne.


Today, there is nothing unique about it, as many revolutions have led to the adoption of a Constitution. Iran, for instance, has a Constitution.

Answer 3

I think all individual pieces of our particular government set up had been tried before. What makes us unique is the way the constitution had a good set of checks and balances to strictly limit the power of the federal government. This made us the freest country on earth until the international bankers gained control through their foreign owned corporation the federal reserve bank. With their complete control of our money it was inevitable they would gain total control and force us into a new world order one world government. We are nearly completely there and our constitution is hanging by the merest thread and that thread is the 2nd amendment!
We need to take control back! Support Dr. Ron Paul for president!

Answer 4

In a nutshell, though it's hard to fit all the advantages into a nutshell, the most unique aspect of our government is that before anything else, it is based on the premise of individual liberties.

Answer 5

It works lol! And clearly--one of the few countries where the military's primary allegience is to the constitution.