The ‘roaring twenties’

• Key characteristics of the ‘roaring twenties’

• How is America Governed?

How is America governed?

The Constitution and the Federal Government

A Union of States• The USA was born on 4 July 1776 when 13

British colonies in North America declared that they wanted to be independent.

• After fighting the War of Independence against Britain, the Americans joined the 13 colonies together in a new nation.

• The original 13 states are remembered by the 13 strips on the American flag.

• Since then other states have joined and are represented by the stars – 50 in total.

The Constitution• The Constitution is a set of rules describing how America

must be governed.• Part of it, the Bill of Rights, also describes the rights of the

people.• The Constitution describes the federal government system.• This means that each state has its own government, but

there is also a central government for the whole country.• The central government, based in Washington DC, as

‘specified powers’ over foreign policy, defence, trade, currency and the postal service.

• Other powers are kept by the individual state government who can and do have different laws from each other.

Central GovernmentThe President

The President of the USA combines the role

of Head of the Government (the British PM) and Head of State

(like the British monarch). The

President is elected directly by people. The

President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy. The

President is elected every four years.

Congress

Congress makes laws. It also decides on taxation,

and declares war or agrees peace. It can accept or reject the policies of a

President. Like the British Parliament Congress has two houses – but both are

elected

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has nine judges. They are not elected but are chosen by

the President with the Senate’s agreement.

They make sure that the President and Congress

obey the rules of the Constitution. They have

to decide whether the new laws are ‘constitutional’.House of

Representatives

Senate

Political Parties

DemocratsTends to be Liberal – it favours helping the poor and the old.e.g. Bill Clinton, Franklin Roosevelt, George Washington.

RepublicansMore conservative – it often supports businessmen and wealthy people.e.g. George Bush, Herbert Hoover, Abraham Lincoln.

Go to: http://www.dhahranbritish.com/History/B7_roa

r20s.htm • Read carefully. • Then we will listen to

a podcast on the subject

• Answer the questions on the sheet as you listen carefully to the podcast.