characteristics of american democracy
Characteristics of American Democracy
American democracy is the reward of a political culture that not only shares common values and beliefs, but also respects individual thought on the attitude and basic functioning of the government.
- In the United States of America, the President is the head of the government as well as the state, unlike other parliamentary systems where the Prime Minister is the head of the government who is the leader of the elected party.
- In the United States of America, the Presidential candidate is indirectly elected by a group of specially selected voters called the Electoral College.
- In most democratic governments, different parties already have representatives of each state who are directly elected by the people and who enjoy cabinet portfolios. In America, the President nominates dignitaries as cabinet ministers who are essentially not part of the Congress.
- Though all the states have their own constitution, they are all subject to comply with the Constitution of the United States of America. For example, the constitution allows a criminal the right to trial by the jury. The state Constitution, however, cannot deny this right for a criminal in its region.
- The national government has certain exclusive powers, which affect or are applicable to every citizen of the country. For example, printing currency, declaring war, establishing an army / navy, entering into treaties with foreign governments, regulating commerce between state and international trade, establishing post offices and issuing postage, and making laws necessary to enforce the Constitution.
- Besides complying with the Constitution of the United States, the local or state Constitution has powers reserved to establish local governments, issue licenses (driving, marriage, etc.), regulate intrastate commerce, conduct elections, update the amendments made in the United States Constitution but should not indulge into powers that are delegated to or prohibited from the United States Constitution, can set legal age for smoking or drinking in the state.
- On the other hand, there are certain powers that are shared by both the national and state governments, which are best to work collaboratively to suit its application on a national as well as local level. For example, setting up of courts, creating and collecting taxes, infrastructure, borrowing money, undertaking expenses for public welfare, making and enforcing laws, etc.
- In the United States of America, there are certain powers vested with the judiciary that it shares with the federal system, acting as a parallel authority within its scope of law for national government.
- The Supreme Court has the power to nullify or overturn a law that it deems outdated, unlawful or unconstitutional. However, in some parliamentary systems, the Supreme Court cannot do so. It can only point out or make a remark for a particular law to be amended, at the least. The court is subject to announce its justifications based on the existing laws only.