American Government Term Paper Topics
The United States gained its independence on July 4th, 1776, the American Independence Day. A democratic system governs the United States, run by the executive branch (mainly the president and the vice president), the judicial system and the legislative branch. The United States elects these leaders from members of one of two political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. From time to time, members of other parties run for political positions, but in United States history, the Republicans and the Democrats have maintained a strong hold on these positions.
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Judicial System
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The judicial system runs part of the United States government. The United States divides their judicial system into two branches: the federal courts and the state courts. According to the federal government courts' website, the federal courts take responsibility for upholding Article III and Article I of the Constitution. State courts have jurisdiction over matters such as contract law, probate law and traffic law. Write a term paper comparing and contrasting the difference between the jurisdiction of the state courts and the federal courts. Using examples, discuss why the United States considers some cases federal cases and some state cases.
The Two-Party System
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The Republicans and the Democrats control the branches of government. The United States' two-party system began in the 1800s, first with the Democrats dominating the Whig party, and nearly forty years later when the Republicans entered the political scene, replacing the Whigs. Throughout history, other parties have ran for political office, but the two-party system prevails. Write a term paper dissecting the reason other parties such as the Independent Party and the Green Party have not prevailed during elections. Explain the history of the two-party system in the United States, starting with the Whig Party, and explain how the Democrats and the Republicans became such powerhouses in the United States government.
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The Legislative System
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The senate and the house create bills that become laws. The main objective of the United States legislative system is to pass bills that will eventually become laws. The House of Representatives and the Senate make up the legislative system. In both houses, the United States elects members from each of the 50 states. The U.S. government determines the number of members of the House of Representatives from each state based on each state's population. The total number of seats in the House of Representatives rounds out at 435. The total number of seats in the Senate is 100; each state has two senators, no matter its population. Write a term paper on the different responsibilities of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Outline how the U.S. elects members of each chamber, and explain how each state's population factors into the decision.
The Executive System
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The president runs the executive system. The president, the vice president and the cabinet comprise the executive branch. According to the United States White House, "The cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments." The president chooses cabinet members, and the senate must approve the members the president appoints. Write a term paper on the responsibilities of the president, the vice president and the cabinet. If something should happen to the president, who takes over these responsibilities?
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References
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