1. POLITICAL ISSUES
THE US CONSTITUTION
A constitution is a set of rules which explain how the
government of a country works.
The USA has a written constitution
Amendments – this is the name given to any changes
in the constitution
The first 10 Amendments are known as the BILL OF
RIGHTS: it lays out some of the rights and
responsibilities US citizens have
Many Americans are fiercely protective of the
constitution and their rights. These rights have
existed since the USA became an independent
country.
The constitution is the highest law in the land. People
can take legal action if they feel there rights are
being denied.
Right
What this means
Responsibility
Freedom of Speech
Americans have the right to
criticise their government if
they disagree with its
actions.
They also have the
responsibility not to slander
(lie) or make sexist or racist
remarks
Right to Vote
US citizens over the age of
18 can vote in elections if
they are if they are
registered
They also have the
responsibility to use their
vote and accept whoever wins
the election
Right to Bear Arms
Americans have the right to
own and, in some states,
carry a gun
They also have the
responsibility to keep the gun
safely and only use it in selfdefence.
Right of Assembly
Americans can hold
marches and
demonstrations to show
support or opposition for
political issues
They also have the
responsibility to protest
peacefully without
violence and intimidation
Example
Many Americans criticise
Obama’s decision to
introduce healthcare for
everyone
However, some claim he does
this because he is communist,
which is a lie.
There are over 1 million
elected positions people in
the US can vote for.
However, the number of
people voting in the US is
only around 50-60% this is
even lower when not voting
for the president
Many Americans safely use
their guns for protection or
join gun clubs.
However, every year
thousands of Americans are
murdered by guns
Many Americans
peacefully protested
outside the supreme
court in support of gay
marriage
However, protest against
the shooting of a unarmed
black teenager in Florida
turned violent

2. Rights are very important, although the US constitution was written in 1776, the 21st
century USA still sticks closely to it and the rights laid out in it have been the basis of
US freedom for over 300 years.
The constitution PROTECTS these rights and although they can be changed/altered or
updated, it is very difficult to do so unless the Majority of Americans are seen to agree
with it.
Why its Americans should use their Rights:
One of the most important rights is the right to vote – yet
the number of people turning out to vote is quite low- around
60% in most elections – meaning 40% of people who are
allowed (registered to vote don’t – we will look at the
reasons why later)
It is important to vote because:

You can choose who runs the country – which may
influence if the US goes to war or not

It give minorities a say – if Black and Hispanics
want to be better represented then they need to
vote for people they feel would represent them

Not voting is a threat to democracy – if you don’t
vote then the people in charge will be elected by
only a small number of people that do vote

Voting helps to protect your interests – if you don’t
vote some of your rights may be removed like the
right to own/carry a gun.
Activities
Q1 – What is a constitution?
Q2 – Why might some Americans be fiercely protective of their rights?
Q3 – EXAM STYLE QUESTION “Americans have a number of responsibilities they are expected to follow”
Describe, in detail, TWO RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES of US citizens
(NAT 4 = 4 marks, ONE Right and ONE Responsibility) (NAT 5 = 8 marks)
Q4 –Why is it important that Americans use their right to vote?

3. Government of the USA
The constitution also outlines the
system of government for the USA.
The USA has a FEDERAL system of
government.
This means the government is split
into 2 parts:
Federal (National) Government
= government for the whole USA I.e.
Barack Obama
State Government
= each individual state has its own
government
I.e California has a government that
decides state issues, and
Florida has a different
government that will decide
issues for Florida.
= ONE FEDERAL GOVT AND 50
STATE GOVTS
Therefore state laws can be
different from each other i.e. Texas
uses the Death Penalty but California
does not.
Federal Government
(Washington
D.C/Barack Obama)
Responsible for:
 U.S. Military
 U.S. Money
 Postal Services
 Relations with
other countries
 Federal Tax
However FEDERAL laws apply in all 50
states.
State Governments (Texas,
Arizona, etc.)
Responsible for:
 Local laws –
education, age of
consent, speed
limit
 Punishment – use
of death penalty
 Provision of
roads, etc.
 Local taxes!
Each of the 50 states has its
own flag and governor

4. The Federal Government of the USA
The Federal government of the USA is split into Three Branches (or parts). Each part has its own role to play in
the governing of the United States of America.
The 3 Federal branches of Government are:

EXECUTIVE = The President (Barack Obama)

LEGISLATIVE = Congress (This is the US ‘parliament’)

JUDICIAL = The Supreme Court (a select group of very important Judges who safeguard the RIGHTS of
Americans)
The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch is the name given to the Part of the Government that RUNS the country.
This is mainly the President of the United States of America. The current President is Barak Obama he is the 44th
President.
Along with President Obama: the White House office and the people who the President chooses to help him run the
government (Called his CABINET) are included in this part.
In order to be President:





Elected once every 4 years
Must be a citizen of the USA
Must have lived in the USA for 14 years prior to the election
Can only be elected for 2 consecutive terms of 4 years before standing down (8 years in total)
Elected in a separate election

5. The Legislative Branch
This is the LAW making part of the USA government. Although, the President can suggest laws and has to sign a bill
before it becomes a law: the actual passing/making laws happens in CONGRESS. Congress is the US ‘parliament’
where elected politicians decide on laws to help run the country.
Congress has 2 parts

The Senate – people who are elected here are called SENATORS

The House of Representatives – people who are elected here are called
CONGRESSMAN/CONGRESSWOMAN

6. The Judicial
The SUPREME COURT is the Highest
Judicial Power in the land and consists
of 9 judges.
Its Main task is to overlook the political
system to see that all laws operate in
the interests of the American people
and not harm their rights and freedoms.
It can “throw out” any measures
contrary to the American Constitution.
EVEN if the President and Congress
want to introduce them
It is very important and is sometimes
seen as the ‘guardian’ of the
constitutions
In recent years it has rules on important
issues like:

Healthcare

Immigration

Same sex marriage
It also has the power to decide on
disputes between states.
Activities
Q1 – What is meant by a Federal system of Government?
Q2 – Make a spider diagram from both Federal government and state government, showing the areas they
have power over.
Q3 – For EACH of the 3 branches of the Federal – write a paragraph describing what each area does.
Q4 – Note down the powers of the President of the USA