1、A Guide to English-Speaking Countries英语国家概况The United States The United States of of AmericaAmericaForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Government Chapter Ten Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English
2、-Speaking CountriesCountries CONTENTConstitution1Federal System&Government 2Political Parties3Election4Foreign Policy5Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Spe
3、aking CountriesCountries Constitutionbasic instrument law,drawn up in 1787,came into effect in 1789Two characters:separation of powers,checks and balancesspecified exactly what power the central government had and which power was reserved for the states1.ConstitutionForeign Language Teaching and Res
4、earch Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries Significance of the ConstitutionTaking precedence over all state constitutions and laws,and over laws made by the congress;Fir
5、st of its kind in the world,it has inspired dozens of other countries to seek political reform.1.US ConstitutionForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking
6、CountriesCountries What is federalism?What is the separation of powers?What are the qualifications for a US President?How do you understand the power of American President?Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research
7、PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 2.Federal System&Government2.12.22.32.4Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressThe Federal GovernmentThe Executive BranchThe Legislative BranchThe Judicial Branch Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign La
8、nguage Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries The Federal Governmentthe central government Three equal and separate branches：The Executive branchThe Legislative branchThe Judicial branchThey are checked and balanced by one another.2.1 The
9、 Federal Government Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 2.2 The executive branch Departments&White HouseFunctions of The Presiden
10、t Qualifications of The President Watergate Scandal2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries The executive branc
11、h consists of 15 departments and many independent agencies；Cabinet is formed by department headssecretaries；source of advice and assistance to the presidentPresident is chief of the executive.first citizen his wifeFirst Lady2.2.1 Departments&White HouseForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Fo
12、reign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaki
13、ng CountriesCountries 2.2.1 Departments&White HouseOfficial presidential residenceThe president works and lives here and the offices of most of his staffs are also located there,such as White House Staff,National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency(CIA),etc.The White House at Christ
14、mas nightForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries As Chief Executive,he is given the authority or duty:to command the armed forces and
15、 grant pardons;to make appointments to certain offices;to conclude treaties;to send and receive diplomatic and consular officials;to inform Congress on the“state of the Union”;to recommend legislation,approve or veto bills passed by Congress,and ensure the execution of laws.2.2.2 Functions of The Pr
16、esidentForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries The presidents limits:major appointments with approval of the Senate;veto overridden b
17、y Congress with two-thirds consent of the Senators;all appropriations legislated by Congress;can be impeached by Congress if abusing power or committing crimes;no power to dismiss Congress;his policy can be vetoed and abolished by the Supreme Court.2.2.2 Functions of The PresidentForeign Language Te
18、aching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries Natural-born American citizen of and over 35 years old;Being resident within US for at least 14 years;Serve one
19、or two successive terms of four years.Franklin D.Rooseveltthe only president who served more than two successive termsAfter World War II,Congress adopted an amendment limiting a president to two successive terms only.2.2.3 Qualifications of The President Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
20、Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 2.2.4 President and ScandalWatergate ScandalThe Watergate scandal occurred in 1972.It remains one of the top presidential scandals of mode
21、rn time.Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries nTo defeat his adversary,Nixon hired five burglars to set up wiretaps to get confiden
22、tial information in the Democratic National Committee offices;nIt was exposed and became the biggest political scandal in the history of America;nBecause of the pressure of public,Nixon was to be impeached but he resigned in 1974.2.2.4 President and ScandalListen to the Audio:WatergateForeign Langua
23、ge Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries What qualifications are prescribed for a Representative and a Senator?What are the functions of the Congres
24、s?Briefly state the legislative processhow does a bill become law?What do you know about the Judicial Branch and the Jury System?2.3 The Legislative BranchForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA
25、Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 2.3 The Legislative BranchThe SenateThe House of Representatives The Function of CongressCongress2.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.4Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Re
26、search PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 2.3.1 CongressLaw-making and the supreme legislative body；Two houses:the Senatethe House of Representatives The Capitol is no longer opened to the public after the terrorist event on Sept.11th,2001.Foreign Language
27、 Teaching and Research PressUnited States Capitol,Washington,D.C.Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 100 voting members,two from each state;They may be reelected for an unlim
28、ited number of six-year terms,chosen by a direct election;Qualifications for being a senator:over 30 years old;a US citizen for at least 9 years;resident in the state from which he is elected.2.3.2 The Senate Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressFo
29、reign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 435 voting members plus six non-voting representatives from Puerto Rico,the District of Columbia and four other territories of the U.S.State legislature divides each state into congres
30、sional districts,each district electing one representative;Qualifications for being a representative:at least 25 years old;US citizen for no less than 7 years;serve for a term of two years.2.3.3 The House of RepresentativesForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Re
31、search PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries Function of Congresspassing laws for the Union;Either house may introduce legislation on any subject except the revenue bills which must originate in the House of Represe
32、ntatives.2.3.4 The Function of CongressForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign La
33、nguage Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries The constitution is generous in its grant of powers to Congress;Among these powers are：the power to“spend and tax in order to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United S
34、tates”;the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States;the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states;2.3.4 The Function of CongressForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research Press
35、A Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries the power to declare war,raise and support armies,and provide and maintain a navy;the power to establish post offices and post roads;the power to set up the federal courts under the Supreme Court;the power“to make all laws whi
36、ch shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution”.2.3.4 The Function of CongressForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries T
37、he judicial branch consists of a series of courts:the Supreme Courtthe courts of appeals12the district courts94The Supreme Courtthe highest courtOne Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices;decisions are made by the majority.appointed by the President with the Senates approval;only removed from of
38、fice by Congress through a difficult impeachment process.2.4 The Judicial BranchForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries In most crimi
39、nal justice systems and some civil cases,panels are initially selected at random from the adult population of the district.A person who is serving on a jury is known as a juror.The number of jurors is usually twelve,though smaller cases may require only six.Some alternate jurors are nominated to fol
40、low the trial when jurors do not complete the trial for health or other reasons(but they do not take part in deciding the verdict).Jury SystemForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to Engl
41、ish-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries The role of the jury is the“finder of fact”,while the Judge has the sole responsibility of interpreting the appropriate law and instructing the jury accordingly.Occasionally,a jury may find the defendant not guilty even though he violated the law if t
42、he jury thinks that the law is invalid or unjust.Jury SystemForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries What are the differences between
43、the two major parties?What are the functions of the major parties when the general election comes?How is the president voted in the US?What is the“winner-take-all”system?3.Political PartiesForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teach
44、ing and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 3.Political PartiesSymbols of PartiesThe Democratic PartyThe Republican PartyFunction of Parties3.1 3.23.3 3.4 Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressFore
45、ign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries 3.1 Symbols of Parties Donkey&ElephantIn 1847,American artist Thomas Nest drew a political picture with a donkey representing the Democratic Party and an elephant representing the Republ
46、ican Party.The Democratic Party and the Republican PartyFrom then on,they became the symbol of the two parties.Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking C
47、ountriesCountries The Democratic Partyliberal;Governmentplaying an important role in the economy and emphasizing full employment;Favor civil rights laws,a strong social security system and less restrictive abortion laws,etc.;More disposed to search out a method of living with Russia and China and to
48、 look for reduction in arms spending.3.2 The Democratic PartyForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries The Republican Partyconservative
49、;Favor an economic systemgiving enterprises a greater freedom and demand the government to control inflation;Stress the need for law and order;Oppose complete government social programs and free choice of abortion;Favor a strong military posture and assertive stand in international relations.3.3 The
50、 Republican PartyForeign Language Teaching and Research Press Foreign Language Teaching and Research PressForeign Language Teaching and Research PressA Guide toA Guide to English-Speaking English-Speaking CountriesCountries To nominate candidates for office and help them in their election campaigns.
