I . NATIONAL SYMBOLS

1. The flag

There are 13 equal horizontal stripes of red representing the 13 original states. There is a blue rectangle in the upper corner bearing 50 small white stars; 50 stars representing the 50 states

It's known as Old Glory or Stars and Stripes; During the revolution against Britain, George Washington asked Betsy Ross to make a flag as an encouragement for his soldiers. This flag had 13 stripes, seven red and six white, and in one corner 13 white stars on a blue background to represent the 13 states. On 14 June 1777 it became the flag of the independent US. As each new state became part of the US an extra star was added.

Betsy Ross made the1st US flag with 13 stars of the colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island.

2. The Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal was publicly first used in 1782. It is kept by the Secretary of State and used on documents of national importance. It appears on US money and government documents, shows a bald eagle, a very large bird which is itself a symbol of the US. On the ribbon hold by the eagle there is and a Latin motto e pluribus unum which refers to the fact that the US is one country made up from many individual states. In his right claw he holds an olive branch with 13 leaves and 13 olives (peace) and in his left claw he holds 13 arrows (weapon=war). The eagle has his head directed into peace. The Seal has also reverse side: with Latin words novus ordo umnum which means new order of things. There is also an eye of Providence watching over the country.

Though the United States has never adopted any "national coat of arms", the image from the obverse of the great seal is often used informally as national arms, and is used on State documents such as passports in this capacity. Since 1935, both sides of the Great Seal appear on the reverse of the One-Dollar Bill of the United States.

3. The National Anthem of the US - The Star-Spangled Banner

It was written in 1812 by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer, as he watched British ships trying without success to capture Fort McHenry in Maryland during the War of 1812. He wrote the words and added the music of an old British song. The US Congress officially made it the country's national anthem in 1931. It ends:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

4. The Statue of Liberty

the famous US statue on Liberty Island in the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbour as a welcome to all visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans. It is a woman holding the torch and its official name is the `Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World'. It has become a symbol of freedom and was the first American sight seen by many people who went to the US for a better life. It was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartoldie and given to the US people by France in 1884 to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the USA gaining independence.

5. Roots of Democracy

We all know that early way of life encouraged democracy.

• Jamestown-colonists elected governing body between themselves and ruled through representatives = (governments powers came from the people)

• need for co-operation; wild land which needed to be clear and inhabited, everybody was equal and had to work equally

6. CONSTITUTION

Was created to protect the democratic interests of the people and government. It was the 1^st constitution in the world (1787):

• Is the supreme law of the United States of America and basis for other articles and laws which have to be in compliance with it

• Is the oldest federal constitution currently in use.

• was adopted in its original form on September 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention.

Constitution begins with preamble; there is 7 articles and 27 amendments

Articles of the Constitution define:

• the powers of national and state governments

• functions and framework of each branch of government

• rights of individual citizens

• each state has its own constitution but the United States constitution is supreme

• balance between strong central power (federal) and states' rights

• a system of checks and balances to restrict (ograniczyć) the powers of each branch

Constitution can be changed - it's called amendment (poprawka)

Total number of amendments is 27.

1^st 10 is called The Bill of Rights- basic rights of citizens (freedom of speech, to keep fire arms)

13^th - ended slavery1865

15^th - all men can vote

18^th - prohibition

19^th - women can vote

7. Checks and balances

One of the basic principles of government in the US. It means a system in which each branch of government has a certain amount of control over the other branches, creating a balance of power(cooperation).For example, the President can veto (= reject) laws passed by Congress, but Congress can overcome this veto and even investigate the President and dismiss him from his job. (it makes sure that each branch of government won't be too powerful; all depends on one another0

Principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power. Checks and balances are applied primarily in constitutional governments. They are of fundamental importance in tripartite governments, such as that of the United States, which separate powers among legislative, executive, etc. By dividing power among the three branches of the government, the Constitution effectively ensure that government power will not be taken by a small power groups or few leaders.

** federal government **

(in the US) the system of government as defined in the Constitution which is based on the separation of powers among three branches:

the executive (President and Vice-President and government departments and agencies)

the legislative (the Congress which is made up of the two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives)

the judicial (the Supreme Court, 13 courts of appeal and many federal district courts)

This system provides a series of checks and balances because each branch is able to limit the power of the others.

The executive branch consists of the President and Vice-President, based in the White House in Washington, DC, and government departments and agencies.

The President

-can approve or stop laws proposed by Congress,

-appoints senior officials, such as heads of government departments and federal judges, and

- is also Commander-in-Chief of the military forces.

There are 15 government departments, the heads of which make up the Cabinet which meets regularly to discuss current affairs and advise the President.

The legislative branch is the Congress which is made up of the two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives which both meet in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

The main job of Congress is to

-makes laws, but its other responsibilities include establishing federal courts, setting taxes and, if necessary, declaring war. The President and members of Congress are chosen in separate elections.

The Senate has 100 members, two from each state, both of whom represent the whole state and are elected for six years. The House of Representatives has 435 members who are elected every two years. The number of members from each state depends on the population of the state, with larger states divided into districts each with one representative.

The judicial branch of government has three levels: the Supreme Court, 13 courts of appeal and many federal district courts. The Supreme Court has nine members, called justices who are chosen by the President and headed by the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court has the power to influence the law through a process called judicial review.

******* impeachment - postawienie w stan oskarżenia

the procedure by which a public official in the US, including the President, is charged with acting illegally and may be forced to leave the job. President Richard Nixon resigned after the House Judiciary Committee recommended that he should be impeached (= charged) for the crime of Watergate. Only two presidents have been officially impeached. The first was Andrew Johnson in 1868, who remained as President because the US Senate decided by one vote that he should do so. The second was Bill Clinton in 1999, who was also judged not guilty of acting illegally.

******* the State of the Union Address

a speech given each year by the US President to Congress. He is required by the American Constitution to give `information on the State of the Union', and he also talks about his government's successes, plans and policies. The speech is shown on national television.

II. FEDERALISM

The authority=power is divided between the central government and the individual states. However there are certain powers, called concurrent powers, which both the federal and state government share.

Powers of the national (central) government:

• to regulate foreign trade and commerce(handel) between states

• to borrow and coin money

• to conduct foreign relations with other nations

• to raise and support armed forces

• to declare war and make peace

• to govern territories and admit new states

• decides for the whole nation

Concurrent powers: !!!!!!

• to collect taxes

• to borrow money

• to establish and maintain courts

• to make and enforce laws

• to provide for the health and welfare treatment of the people

Powers reserved to state governments:

• to regulate trade within the state

• to establish local governments

• to establish and support public schools

• to ratify amendments

• to incorporate(=to create a legally recognized company) business firms

3. THREE BRANCHES OF POWER

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• judicial branch

1. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH - its function is to make laws.

Bicameral [/'baı'kæm
r
l/-dwuizbowy] Legislature (part of the government that makes law)/ Congress:

• lower chamber: the House of Representatives

• higher chamber: the Senate

House of Representatives:

• 435 members

• must be 25 years of age

resident of state which he represents (for at least 7 years)

US citizen

• number of representatives from a state is based on the states' population (each district chooses one representative)

• 2 years terms

• is presided by the Speaker

Senate:

• 100 members - each state has two senators

• must be 30 years of age

• resident of state which he represents (for at least 9 years)

• US citizen

• 6 years terms - every 2 years 1/3 of senators stand for election

committees: both House of Representatives and Senate are broke into committees

• Senate 16 permanent committees

• House of Representatives 22 permanent committees

They do the hardest work of weighing proposals and bills (committees; agriculture, foreign affairs, budget, environment, defence).

-specialise in certain ideas

-discuss things which concerning their area

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

• each house of Congress may initiate legislation (ustawodawstwo)

• a law first begins as a “bill” ( bill (project ustawy)- written proposal for a new law which is brought to a parliament so that it can be discussed)

• bill is sent to appropriate committee, members of which study this bill and then send it to the senate or house chamber where it was first introduced

• after a debate, the bill is voted on

• if it passes, it is sent to the other house where it goes through a similar process

• the Senate may reject a bill proposed in the House of Representatives or add amendments. If that happens, a “conference committee” made up of members from both houses tries to work out a compromise.

• If both sides agree on the new version, the bill is sent to the president for his signature. At this point the bill becomes a law.

The bill becomes a law :

• when a bill is signed by the President

• when a President's veto is overridden= cancelled (zlekceważyć/uchylić) by both houses (2/3 have to vote for it)

2. EXECUTIVE BRANCH - is responsible for administering the laws passed by congress

Head: President - presides over the executive branch

Vice-President

President:

• Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States

• Must be 35 years of age

• elected to 4 year term and can be re-elected to a second term

• appoints:

secretaries of the major departments that make up the president's cabinet

senior officials of the many agencies in the expansive bureaucracy

• represents the country abroad, entertains foreign leaders ( as head of state)

• appoints foreign ambassadors and makes treaties with other nations (as director of foreign policy)

• serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and as head of his political party

• can veto congressional legislation (when president rejects sth it goes back to congress and 2/3 have to vote for it if they want this bill as a law)

• may propose or recommend legislation to Congress

What he can do with the bill? Sign it, veto it, propose amendment , remain unsigned (it becomes law in 10 days after 2/3 of Congress vote for it)

Vice-president:

• presides over the Senate

• assumes (takes on) the presidency if the president dies, becomes disabled, or is removed from office.

• has to be resident of the US for at least 15 years

Executive departments:

• their heads are chosen by the president and confirmed by the Senate ( the Department of State, Treasury, Defence, Health..)

• heads of departments are called president's advisors.

3. JUDICAL BRANCH

Supreme Court

↓

11 courts of Appeals

↓

91 distric courts

Supreme Court:

• is created by constitution

• a decision of the Supreme Court cannot be appealed to any other court

• member are called justices

• 1 Chief Justice, 8 Associate Justices

• appointed for life by a President

• removed only through impeachment

An important function of the Supreme Court is:

- to determine whether laws of Congress or actions of the president are constitutional

- to involve cases with foreign dignitaries and states

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