1. When the Constitution was
written in 1787, there were only 13
states. Because the drafters of the
Constitution saw that the future
might bring a need for changes,
they provided a method of adding
amendments. Over the years 26
amendments have been added, but
the basic document has not
changed. The first 10 amendments
to the Constitution, called the Bill
of Rights, assure individual rights
and freedoms.
2. Added in 1791, they include provisions for freedom of
speech, of the press; the right of citizens to meet
peacefully; the right to be secure in one’s own home
against unreasonable searches and seizure of person or
property; and the right of any person charged with
breaking the law to have a speedy trial by a jury of fellow
citizens.
3.
4. Constitution gives Congress
authority to make laws necessary
for the common defense and good
of the nation.
The Federal government
deals with national problems and
international relation and with
regional problems which involve
more than one state. The Laws
adopted provide social welfare,
public works, economic control
and protection of the rights and
labour.
the United States Congress
5. The state governments follow
much thy same pattern as the
Federal government. Each has a
Governor as a chief executive, with
power divided among the
Executive, Legislative and Judicial
branches.
State governments manage
such affairs as:
maintaining order
educating children and
young adults
building highways.
7. The President of the USA is
chosen in a national election for a
four-year term of office, and may be
re-elected for a second term.
He must be
a native-born citizen
at least 35 years old.
His salary is 200,000$ a year
and he also gets an extra 50,000$ for
expenses; but he must pay income
tax on the whole amount. He
receives up to 100,000$ tax-free for
travel and 20,000$ for official
entertainment, and he is provided a
home and extensive office space at
theWhite House.
the White House
8.
9. As Head of the Executive
Branch, the President must
carry out the government
programs enacted into law by
Congress. He recommends
programs and laws to Congress
and requests money for federal
government operations. If a
President “vetoes” or refuses to
sign a bill passed by the
Congress, his veto may be
overruled by a two-thirds votes
of both Houses of Congress.
10. The President appoints
federal judges, ambassadors
and hundred of government
officials, and assigns duties to
the elected Vice President. If a
President dies, resigns or
becomes permanently
disabled, the Vice-president
assumes the office until the
next election.
12. Under the US Constitution a sitting
President may be removed from office
before his term expires only by an
impeachment process. That begins with
the House of Representatives. If upon
sufficient evidence, the House drafts a
“bill of impeachment” which must be
approved by two-thirds of its members.
Trial in the Senate, with the Chief
Justice of the UNITED States acting as
the judge and the Senators as the Jury,
follows. Only one American President has
ever been impeached – Andrew Johnson –
who was tried and acquitted in 1868 (for
the dismissal of his secretary of war
Edwin Stanton).
13. But in 1974 there was a historic
confrontation arising out of the
“Watergate” affair, which
centered on illegal campaign
contributions and involved top-level
administration officials,
including President Richard
Nixon. Before the trial could
take place, however, President
Nixon resigned his office, and
Gerald R. Ford, tan Vice
President, succeeded him.
President Richard Nixon
