Explain the structure of the Congress – the supreme legislative body. Discuss the election of Senators and Representatives and whom they represent.

The Congress consists of 2 houses:

• The upper chamber – the Senate

• The lower chamber – the House of Representatives (HP)

The life of any Congress lasts for only 2 years. Originally every Congress would open on the 1^st Monday of December, but it has changed – only odd numbers of the year, the 3d of January. Originally the Congress was to be elected by the state legislative bodies, but the 14^th amendment gave this right to the Am. people.

Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators, two from each state. One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office. The Senators represent all of the people in a state and their interests.

The House has 435 members. They are elected every two years for two-year terms. They represent the population of "congressional districts" into which each state is divided. The number of Representatives from each state is based upon its population. For instance, California, the state with the largest population, has 45 Representatives, while Delaware has one. There is no limit to the number of terms a Senator or a Representative may serve.

16. President as the head of the Executive power, the us administration.

The Executive Department is headed by President. He is both the Head of the Government and the head of the state. The official residence – Washington DC. The P is elected for a 4 years term. Under 22 amendment he can’t be elected more than twice. He must be a natural born US citixen, at least 35 years old.

The Constitution gives the P wide executive powers:

• Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces

• Has the power to make treaties with other countries

• Appoints ambassadors, judges

• Has the power to veto the legislation. Pocket veto – the president doubts or hesitates. In 10 days the Bill becomes law even without the president’s signature.

• Has the authority to recommend measures to Congress, merely all imp legislation originates in the White House

• He is the major legislator

• Is required by the Constitution to inform the Congress on the state of the union. Each year in January he presents a Report to Congress in which he reviews the work of the government for the past year and outlines the proposals for the current year.

The Cabinet. The P’s control over the Federal Executive Administration is primarily exercised through the heads of 14 executive departments. Department heads/secretaries are responsible to the P who can ask for their resignation at any time. The members of the cabinet are never members of the Congress. Their appointment requires the Senate’s approval, but this is generally a formality. The Cabinet is usually composed of members of the P’s political party. (republicans – the ruling party). Much of the P’s power derives from the fact that he is the Head of the political party. Each incoming P awards thousands of government posts to leaders and members of his party.

Departments: of State, Treasury, Defence, Justice, Agriculture, Labour, Health, Education, Transportation etc. in addition to them there are numerous boards and offices as well as independent agencies. (FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation, NASA - National Aeronaughtics and Space Administration)