There are two more debates scheduled between these two candidates. The Nixon versus Kennedy debate was the first ever televised debate where 70 million people tuned in to their television sets for the debate. Neither was in presidential office before, but Nixon
Article III of the US Constitution establishes the judiciary branch - the Supreme Court. Although the US Constitution includes democratic principles such as checks and balances and the separation of powers to ensure the equal balance of power amongst the government branches, the legislative branch was designed to be most powerful. The organization and qualifications of Congress also contribute to the democratic shortcomings of the US Constitution. One of the biggest of these government decisions is electing the president, for which the system of the electoral college is in place. The US Constitution did not abolish slavery, and an interesting guarantee regarding slavery was included in Article IV of the Constitution.
First, all legislative power is vested in the house of reps and the senate, and within this broad function, Congress is given special powers to appropriate monies, raise armies and regulate interstate commerce. Second, the house of reps has the right to declare war. Lastly, the Senate is given the power to ratify treaties and approve appointments by the president to the judiciary and executive branch. However, it has been suggested that Congress is the broken branch of the three branches of government because of how well it performs its functions and powers. 1st paragraph Main function – legislature The Philadelphia Convention 1787 gave Congress the power of being the primary law making body in the US.
Explain the factors that limit the power and influence of the supreme court (15 mark) The Supreme Court, being part of the judicial branch of government is the highest federal court in the US, ensuring that both the legislature and the executive act in accordance with the constitution. However, due to the separation of powers, checks and balances have been placed upon the Supreme Court to ensure that it too acts in accordance with the constitution. Therefore the power and influence of the Supreme Court is limited as a result of the checks which are placed on it and the boundaries set by the constitution. Montesquieu’s separation of powers ensures checks and balances between each branch of government. * montesquieuThe President nominates Supreme Court justices * Senate has the power to approve or reject these nominations * Impeachment power (House) * Trial of impeachments (Senate) * Power to initiate constitutional amendments (to undo supreme court decisions) * Power to write new legislation * Authority to create courts inferior to the Supreme Court * Authority to set jurisdiction of courts (limiting the Court's ability to hear certain types of cases) * Authority to alter the size of the Supreme Court (may change the balance of power within the Court) The Supreme Court is also bound by practical considerations not set forth in the Constitution.
UNLIKE presidential contests, America’s mid-term elections do not seem to inspire many people. In 2012 fully 59% of registered voters turned up at the polls for the presidential election. But two years earlier just 42% bothered to cast their votes in the 2010 mid-term elections, and this year’s turnout may be even lower. Few are as uninterested as the young. In 2010 the turnout of people aged 18 to 24 was just 21%.
In order to implement change in the US constitution, therefore, there is a much stricter protocol to follow. In light of the statement above, it is necessary to look into the theory of Parliamentary Sovereignty. Dicey, a nineteenth century constitutional theorist held the view that “no person or body is recognized by the law of England as having a right to
However, if the broader definition is adopted that states the existence of rules which determine governments operation and institutions, then a constitution exists in the United Kingdom. A.V. Dicey claimed that the United Kingdom Constitution was based on twin pillars of Parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law. The United Kingdom constitution is characterised as being unitary and unwritten, however the division between written and unwritten constitutions is debateable. No constitution is exclusively written or unwritten.
The Presidency and the Prime Minister The role of the American President and the British Prime Minister is one that comes with great power, and with great power comes great responsibility. The President of the United States of America occupies one of the most authoritative offices in the world and the British Prime Minister is not trailing too far behind him. The power to govern roughly a combined 370 million people is proof in itself that these two positions are held with caution and prestige. Although the power and influence of both the President and Prime Minister are so similar, the formal duties used to govern their respective countries are not. The President of the United States of America occupies one of the most powerful offices in the entire world.
The Legislative Branch The Legislative branch, also referred to as Congress, is considered by many to be the most powerful branch of the United States government. Out of the three branches, Judicial, Legislative, and Executive, the Legislative branch can change laws that have already been passed while also being able to introduce new ones. Article I, Sections I, IV, and V of the United States Constitution state and explain the powers invested in the Legislative branch and how it is split between the House of Representatives and the Senate (“The Constitution of the United States”). Although the three branches of the government were created with a system of checks and balances intended to make sure one branch did not become too powerful, the Legislative branch has the most control over government affairs through its ability to override presidential vetoes, impeach federal judges, and the influence it has on the citizens of the United States. One way in which the Legislative branch is more powerful than the Executive branch is through its ability to override a presidential veto.
Although they got more votes than any other party, only 35.2% of the population actually wanted a Labour government, yet they ended up representing 55.1% of the country in Parliament. No government in recent years has ever been elected after obtaining a majority of the votes; the closest any government has got is 40%. Therefore this shows that First Past the Post doesn’t select a government which is popular with the people as the majority of the people didn’t actually vote for the government they have ended up with. Another, more recent example of this is the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition. The Conservatives got 36.1% of the votes and the Liberal Democrats got 23%.