American_Government

Name: ID#: ASSIGNMENT: America Government Systems Prof: Due Date: 10/04/2010 The United States is a federal union of 50 states, with the District of Columbia as the seat of the federal government. The Constitution outlines the structure of the national government and specifies its powers and activities, and defines the relationship between the national government and individual state governments. Power is shared between the national and state (local) governments. Within each state are counties, townships, cities and villages, each of which has its own elective government. How Government Works   The US Government was structured in order to preserve a balance of power between the three respective branches of government.  The three branches are known as the legislative, judicial and executive.  Our forefathers, concerned that one branch of government would become too powerful created a system of separated powers and checks and balances to help stabilize the federal government. I-Legislative Branch   The legislative branch of includes Congress and government agencies.  Congress makes laws and has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.  The Congress is charged with the responsibility of creating making laws by writing what is known as a "bill."  If a bill is passed, it becomes a law if the President (Executive Branch) approves them.  Other powers delegated to Congress include, the power to declare war and control inter-state trade. II-Executive Branch   The executive branch includes the President, Vice President, Departments, and Independent Agencies.  This branch is responsible for the enforcement of laws enacted by Congress.    III-Judicial Branch   Article III of the Constitution established the judicial branch of government and the creation of the Supreme Court.  The duties of the Supreme Court include the power of judicial review.  This means they interpret laws, decide the constitutionality of laws, and determine how laws should be applied.   IV-House of Representatives   There are four hundred and thirty five representatives in the House. The numbers vary greatly from state to state since representation corresponds to population.  Each representative represents what is known as a congressional district.  The amount of representatives a state has is based on the amount of congressional districts within that state.  Bigger states have more representatives and smaller ones have less.  Each representative serves for a two-year term.   V-Senate   Two Senators are elected from every state in order to achieve equal representation among the states in the Senate.  Each Senator is elected for a six-year term and no term limits are placed on a Senator's seat. The Senate is responsible for approving treaties, confirming presidential nominations, and conducting trials.   VI-House of Representatives   There are four hundred and thirty five representatives in the House. The numbers vary greatly from state to state since representation corresponds to population.  Each representative represents what is known as a congressional district.  The amount of representatives a state has is based on the amount of congressional districts within that state.  Bigger states have more representatives and smaller ones have less.  Each representative serves for a two-year term. VII-President 1-The President is the head of the executive branch.  The powers of the President are designated by Article II of the Constitution.  Some of the President's powers include: Commander-in-Chief, making treaties (with the approval of Congress), declaring war (with the approval of Congress), signing bills into law, suggesting bills, appointing judges, heads of departments, and other officials (with the approval of Congress), and pardoning.  The President serves a four-year term, with a two-term maximum.   2-The President plays a crucial role in the law making process.  He has the power to sign a bill into law.  Once both the House of Representatives and Senate pass a bill, then that bill is presented to the President.  If the President agrees with the bill, it is signed into law.  If the President does not agree with it, then it can be vetoed.  VIII-Supreme Court   1-The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.  Its main function is to decide the constitutionality of laws.  This is part of our system of checks and balances. In order to make sure that Congress and the President are acting within the terms of the Constitution, the court has the power to review the law. If the law is unconstitutional, it can be stricken.   2-The Supreme Court also has the power to overturn laws and decisions made by lower courts.  If a lower court has decided a case that is not is not considered principled, constitutional, or justifiable for a variety of reasons that law may be overturned.   3-There are nine members of this court and each is appointed for life.  The Justices hold their positions until they resign retire or are impeached.     http:www.access.gop.gov/naira/browse_gm-02.html09/30/2010 4- Government Works is a leading provider of high quality information technology solutions to state and federal government agencies and vendors. Commentary: In my opinion I agree with all of these facts because those are very important things in our government. These help us control our ways of living. There are also helpful for the laws that make everyone follow the country’s rules to make a world a better place. I believe that without these facts, the country would not be in order because there will be no laws and no one to control the country so everyone will like to do what they prefer which might not be a good thing for our government and country. I also believe that without these facts, there will be too many criminals that will committee crime and walk away without been punish because there is no laws in the country to make people follow the rules.  Princillia Zama Human beings have always wondered about what government should be and do. What benefits should government provide to citizens, and should it be organized to achieve the best results' The America government system is made of many rules and regulations regarding how the system should be ruled. The United States is the largest importer of goods. Economy and spending of the government The united states has a capitalist mixed economy, which is fueled by abundant natural resources, a well development, infrastructure, and high productivity. The U.S economy today is dominated to a great extends by the large corporation. As a country, united states spend much more money that it makes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.united_states) I-Government expenditures for income-tested benefits by type of benefit, 1980–2000In millions of dollars (105,312 represents $105,312,000,000). For years, the ending September 30. Programs covered provide cash, goods, or services to persons who make no payment and render no service in return. In case of many programs, including family cash welfare, food and housing programs, job and training programs and some educational programs, some recipients must work or study. Most of the programs base eligibility on individual, household, or family income, but some use group or area income tests; and a few offer help on the basis of presumed need. Constant dollar figures are based on the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers. http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-WelfarHYPERLINK "http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-Welfare-PUBLIC-AID.html#ixzz11DaBZDze"e-PUBLIC-AID.html#ixzz11DaBZDze II- the Mandatory spending has claimed a much larger share of the federal budget over the past four decades, more than doubling from about one-fourth of federal spending in 1962 to just over half today III-Social welfare expenditures under public programs as percent of gross domestic product and total government outlays, 1980 to 1995 [493 represents $493,000,000,000] the government donates much money to the welfares to help those who need it including poor people, those who don’t have jobs, homeless, and elderly. http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-Welfare-PUBLHYPERLINK "http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-Welfare-PUBLIC-AID.html#ixzz11Db6Ao8H"IC-AID.html#ixzz11Db6Ao8H IV-About half of fiscal 2008 discretionary spending paid for defense, and most of the rest went for domestic programs such as agricultural subsidies, highway construction, and the federal courts (see figure 3). Only 3 percent of discretionary spending funded international activities, such as foreign aid. V- Just over half of federal government spending in fiscal 2008 was mandatory, covering all expenditures that are controlled by laws other than appropriations acts. Almost all such spending is for entitlements, expenditures for which depend on individual eligibility and participation, and which are funded at whatever level is needed to cover the resulting costs. Less than 40 percent of spending in fiscal 2008 was discretionary, covering activities that Congress must reauthorize each year. The remainder went to pay interest on the national debt. http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-Welfare-PUBLIC-AID.html#ixzz11DchXdsn VI- Though the United States remains an industrial power, the economy is postindustrial, with the serve billion for Medicare; in 2000 it spent $224.4 billion. Similarly, spending on public assistance, medical payments (Medicaid). In 1990 reached $78.7 billion, but by 2000 Medicaid accounted for over $208.5 billion. These are huge changes involving enormous sums of money over a relatively short time. This situation helps to explain some of the problems governments face in trying to control their budgets and why health care has become a major national issue http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-Welfare-PUBLIC-AID.html#ixzz11DchXdsn VII- According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, in 2000 the two major categories of public cash benefit payments paid out about $50 billion. Family assistance payments (primarily AFDC/TANF, not including Medicaid) totaled $18.3 billion, while $31.7 billion was paid out for SSI. Spending for SSI increased by 90 percent between 1990 and 2000. Much of this growth reflects the increase in the number of retired Americans, many of whom need Supplemental Security Income in order to live. By contrast, expenditures for family assistance declined by 4.7 percent during the same period. http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/872/How-Much-Does-Nation-Spend-on-Welfare-PUBLIC-AID.html#ixzz11DgE7SE2 Commentary: I believe that as a nation we are spending too much and saving too little. In particular, the rampant growth in the government’ spending on social welfare and entitlement programs has created a huge gap between what has been promised to future generations and what can be afforded. It is very hard to understand what the people who are on government assistance are going through and there are truly some that need it and those that are just riding the system. This is very bad to me because they are spending so much money on people who are just using their children for the money (well some of them)and I think that the parents should get jobs and try to help themselves instead of just using the federal government. I also think that the government should save more money for the country in case of emergencies in the future. We need to take care of our country and ourselves by saving some of our money. The government parties Over the course of the nineteenth century, Americans came to believe that parties could organize structure and facilitate democratic politics in ways that made it easier for citizens to participate. Parties have stories; they have reputations as standing for corporate interests or for the common man, and citizens can choose the party that usually represents the best. Choosing a party is easier than studying every issue and every candidate in every election. (Cal Jillson, American government, chap 7th). The distinguishing characteristic of a political party is that its candidates complete in elections in the hope of winning executive branch offices and majority control of legislatures. 1- Democratic Party The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States. It is the oldest political party in the United States and among the oldest in the world. The Democratic Party, since the division of the Republican Party in the election of 1912, has consistently positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party in economic as well as social matters. The economically left-leaning philosophy of Franklin Roosevelt, which has strongly influenced American liberalism, has shaped much of the party's economic agenda since 1932. Roosevelt's New Deal coalition usually controlled the national government until the 1970s. The civil rights movement of the 1960s has continued to inspire the party's liberal principles, despite having lost the more conservative South in the process. 2-Republican Party The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America. It is often referred to as the Grand Old Party, GOP, and "Gallant Old Party". Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and modernizers, the Republican Party rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president. The party presided over the American Civil War and Remonstrations but was harried by internal factions and scandals toward the end of the 19th century. Today, the Republican Party supports a conservative platform (as far as American politics are concerned), with further foundations in economic liberalism, fiscal conservatism, and social conservatism. 3-Constitution Party The Constitution Party is a conservative United States Party. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers Party in 1992. The party's official name was changed to the Constitution Party in 1999; however, some state affiliate parties are known under different names. 4-Politics comparison The following table lists some political ideologies most often associated with the five U.S. political parties with the most members, as well the official party positions on a number of reformist issues where positions diverge. Nuances may be found in the parties' respective plotforms. It must be remembered that not all members of a party subscribe to all of its officially held positions, the usual degree of variation generally being higher for the larger parties. Note that party members may hold different views on legislation to be enacted at the state or federal levels---most Libertarians, for example, believe that the federal government has no proper role at all with regard to adult consumption of drugs, abortion, or marriages of any sort, but some believe that the several states have the right to legislate therefor. Commentary: Political parties are different and unique in their own ways. they have different beliefs based on their ways of thinking. I personally think that they need to put their differences aside and work together as one united party to help the country and the people succeed. I believe that if these parties decide to come together as one it would be a greater help and success for the political parties and the country. Government Law on Criminal Behavior American Government System involved the causes of juvenile delinquency. The system create rules and regulations to help prevent juvenile delinquency in order to save victims for causing damages to themselves and the government system. I-What are the causes of Juvenile Delinquency'' 1-The causes of Juvenile Delinquency are based on different factors. Juvenile Delinquency can be based on environmental factors, Individual risk factors, Family risk factors, mental health risk factor and substance abuse risk factors. Individual risk factors are identified with juvenile delinquency. A minor who has a lower intelligent is more prone to become involved in delinquent conduct. In many instances, multiple individual risk factors can be identified as destructive and illegal activities. 2-The family risk factors are associated with the development of delinquent behavior in lack of proper parental supervision, ongoing parental conflict, neglect and abuse, emotional, psychological respect for the law. Social norms are likely to have children who think similar attachment to their parents and families are precisely the same juvenile delinquent conduct. 3-Several mental health factors are seen as contributing to juvenile delinquency. It is important to keep of mental health conditions, primarily personality disorders cannot be made in regard to child. The exhibited in childhood that tent to end up being displayed through delinquent behavior. A common one is lack of empathy and disregard for societal norms. 4-Substance abuse is found in a majority of cases of juvenile delinquency. Two trends are identified in regard to substance abuse and minors. First juveniles are using more powerful drugs today. Second, the age at which children in elementary schools are found to be using powerful illegal drugs. The use of these illegal substances illegally motivates young people to commit crimes to obtain money for drugs. II-How government law system combat the juvenile delinquency Through the process of identifying potential risk factors that spur a juvenile to Inappropriate and even illegal, positive intervention, through programming, education and counseling, can divert a juvenile from a path that otherwise would result in delinquency as a child and crime as an adult. The criminal justice system provides facilities to improve juveniles’ lives styles and prevent them from causing further damages in their lives. 1-Serious Habitual Offenders Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) is one of the most effective ways to attack the juvenile crime explosion. With sophisticated information technology, local officials can develop and share crime analysis and case management files on the most serious violent offenders in the community. The criminal justice system is change by mandating that criminal who commit two types of federal crime, serious drugs trafficking offenses will be tried as adults in federal courts, it also would impose mandatory minimum sentences on juveniles who use firearms in the commission of a federal crime. 2-Both the Hatch and McCollum bills would give states financial assistance to help them combat juvenile crime. The McCollum bills would replace the Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) with a new office of Juvenile Crime Control. While the capacity of all government officials to cope with the broader cultural and social changes that appear to be driving increased juvenile criminal behavior is limited, state and local officials still can take decisive steps to curb violent juvenile crime. They can do this by using their police forces more effectively and by integrating innovative community police work with the efforts of community leaders and other agencies in the criminal justice system. 3-Through computer analysis and effective local policing, it enables states and local law enforcement officials to identify, target, arrest, and incarcerate violent teenage criminals. In my opinions, states should reform the juvenile justice system by enacting laws to try violent juvenile criminals as adults when necessary, and by passing the truth in sentencing laws that apply to violent juvenile offenders tried as an adult. Commentary: Our government’s preventive measures to help protect its citizens aren't effectively always. With the complicated case of juvenile delinquency which is deeply rooted in many different factors as I mentioned above, it is highly hard for the government to find a solution that will solve all of its nation's juvenile crime rates. I believe that it would be even better for the government to work together with its citizens to better tackle Juvenile delinquency. A better approach would be prevention. As I have heard many times before, "learning starts at home". Families should start emphasizing the importance of obeying laws at a young age at home. Kids who are raised with discipline are less likely to get into trouble with the law. In my life experiences I have found that engaging in extracurricular at an early age help me stay away from trouble. Allocation of financial assistance for preventing juvenile delinquency should be distributed wisely. Recreational community centers should be financed sufficiently enough so that they can help provide youth with smarter options other than engage in drug or crime related activities. Youths involved in sports activities are less likely to acquire time to be in the streets doing illegal activities.