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In
addition to historical development, geographical and sociological
conditions, and electoral law,
which are addressed in more detail in special sections, the structure of
a political system in any nation is a major influencing factor on its
party system. The main characteristics of the presidential
system in the USA form the subject of the following text.
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The
system of government in the USA |
"Government"
(administration) in the USA is structured thus: In accordance with the
constitution, American government is made up of one person, the
President, who is elected indirectly by the people (...). |
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Taken
from the Declaration of Independence:
"(...)
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,
and the pursuit of Happiness — that to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of
the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their Safety and happiness (...)". |
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[The current President, George
W. Bush] |
The president
of the United States is both head of state and head of government, since
the US constitution provides neither for a 'cabinet' nor for 'ministers'.
Since the president cannot possibly deal with all matters of state on
his/her own, he/she appoints a circle of employees, made up of people
the president trusts based on loyalty and integrity. In addition to the
president's close personal advisors, he/she also appoints people to head
departments (ministers) of state, who, theoretically speaking, are no
more than secretaries of state. (...) The president cannot be removed
from office - only a court of law can order impeachment should the
president have been involved in illegal activity. President Nixon
avoided being impeached by resigning in advance. Yet for all this power,
the president is unable to rule at will. In order to govern, both houses
of Congress have to pass legislation proposed by the president. And this
is only possible when a majority in Congress agrees. |
Congress, or rather, the Senate,
in which 100 highly influential senators represent the interests of the
individual states, and the House of Representatives, in which 435 members
represent local interests, is independent of the president. The president has
the power neither to dissolve the Senate nor the House of Representatives, nor
can the president block laws passed in Congress, that is, not when both Houses
overrule his veto with a 1/3 majority. What is more, Congress is in a position
to put pressure on the President, for only Congress can approve the budget
proposed by the President in that it is Congress that makes available the necessary
finances.
To this end, using a system of
checks and balances, the constitution divides state power between the
legislative (Congress), and the executive (the President) with the aim of
undermining the possibility of dictatorship.
That much too much is expected of
the American president becomes clear when bearing in mind that he/she
 | as head of state is
responsible for representing the US when entertaining guests domestically
and on foreign visits, and that he/she is responsible for appointing people
to high office in the public sphere, the armed forces and judges as well as
being responsible for claims of clemency |
| as the head of government is
responsible for developing the direction of his/her entire political
policies and carrying them through the complicated two-chamber system of
Congress |
| as head of administration is
responsible for implementing laws passed by the legislative through the
departments of state and the administrative |
| as commander and chief of
the armed forces is responsible for the material and staffing needs of the
Army, Navy and Air Force and for its strategic planning |
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as the world's most powerful
person is responsible, together with his/her foreign minister, for
coordinating America's domestic and foreign economic policy that touches
upon almost every nation in the world and lastly |
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as the reigning president is
responsible for leading his/her party. |
Indeed, one of the most burning
questions today is whether this list of duties and this concentration of power
in the hands of one person, which may well have been considered fitting set
against reality at the end of the 18th century, is sensible given the challenges
facing us now and in the future.
[Taken from: Ernst Rudolf Voigts: Die
Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, Informationen zur politischen Bildung 156, Bonn
BpB 1979]
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