American Government

“Americans are a nation born of an idea; not the place, but (the) idea, created the United States Government.” (Theodore H. White)

The founding of United State of America is to make free and independent states. This idea, as has been though by the founder of America several times ago. Now, a new republic was founded, turning into reality the dreams and ideals of few political philosophers. American broke with an age-old tradition, and so sent shock waves back across the ocean: they decided that it was their right to choose their own form of government. As Lincoln’s word, of the people, by the people, for the people, they apply it in their government rule.

Americans first took for themselves the liberties and right that elsewhere were the privileges of an elite few. They would manage their own affairs in their own interests. They would elect their own representative and make their own laws.
Bill of Right considered being fundamental right of any Americans. They are the freedom of religion, speech, and the press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs.

The federal and state and state governments formed under the Constitution, therefore, were designed to serve the people and to carry out their majority wishes. Americans expect their governments to serve them and tend to think of politicians and governmental officials as their servant.

“One person, one vote” principle which says that legislator are elected from geographical districts directly by the voters. Under this principle, all election districts must have about the same number resident.

Another fundamental principle of American government is that because of the system checks and balances, compromise in politics is a matter of necessity, not choice.
Americans also have Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, which is made up of the Senate and the House of representative. The Senators represent all of the people in a state and their interests.

Congress makes all laws, and each house of Congress has the power to introduce legislation. Finally, Congress decides upon taxes and how money is spent. In addition, it regulates commerce among the states and with foreign countries.
The President of the United States is elected every four years. The president is elected directly by the voters through state electors. The president can be from one party and the majority of those in the House of Representatives or senate (or both) from another.

There are two leading parties in American political parties. They are Democrats and Republicans. Sometimes, the Democrats are thought of as associated with labor and the Republicans with the business and industry. Anyone who is an American citizen, at least 18 years of age, and registered to vote may vote in the national election.

The national presidential elections consist of two separate: one is for nomination of candidates at national party conventions. The other is to win the actual election.
As federal state, most state and some cities in America have their own income taxes. Many cities and countries also have their own laws saying who may and may not own a gun. Many airport, some of them international, are owned and controlled by cities or countries and have their own airport police.

Americans always concerned that their politician represents their interest, often form “pressure” group, political lobbies, public action committees, or special interest group. Such groups seek to influence politicians on almost any imaginable subject.

All in all, what do Americans think of their system of government? One American, a Nobel Prize Winner in literature, gave this opinion: “We are able to believe that our government is weak, stupid, overbearing, dishonest, and inefficient, and at the same time we wren deeply convinced that it is the same time we are deeply convinced that it is the best government in the world, and we would like to impose it upon everyone else”.

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