US politics - KennisLand&Samenleving

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 5

US Politics - KennisLand&Samenleving

Goal: 

• to learn more about the US political system
• to learn more about the difference between the political system in the US and the Netherlands

Recap: what is the
pledge of allegiance?

What is the official name of the American Flag?

1. American Flag
2. Star Spangled banner
3. Union Jack
4. Stars and Stripes

What does the flag represent? 

• 50 stars  = 50 states which together form the USA
• 13 stripes = 13 original colonies which seperated from the UK in 1776. 
• What happened in 1776?

       Declaration of Independence -               Thomas Jefferson 

US = federation of 50 states +......? 

• Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Constitution (1787) 

national law = federal government 

------------------------------------

state law 

All 50 US states have: 

• own governor 
• ow court system
• own laws 

US federal government 

• seperation of power 
• system of checks and balances 
• (trias politica)

Explain the name 'checks and balances' 

And now in Dutch

1. Executive power = President 

carries out + makes laws/appoints judges

2. Judicial power = Courts

evaluates laws 

3. Legislative power = Congress 

make laws 

1. Executive power

• President + vice president + Cabinet
• Head of state  (no monarch) AND 
• Head of Administration 
• Commander in Chief US forces
• can max serve 2 terms in office  

White House 

2. Judicial power 

• Supreme court + federal courts 

• Supreme court: 9 members 
• Appointed by president for life. 
• Why an oneven number?
• Ruth Bader Ginsberg  

3. Executive power = Congress 

Congress = Senate + House of Representatives 

3. Congress 

Capitol 

Senate 

• Upper House
• 100 senators; 2 per state 
• serve for 6 years 
• 1/3 is re-elected every 2 years ('continuous body') 
• presided by VP 
• can start impeachment trials  
• majority = Republican (51) 

House of Representatives 

• Lower House 
• 435 members - divided by states, in proportion to population
• serve for 2 years 
• presided by 'Speaker of the House' 
• majority = Republican (219)

What is a 'designated survivor'?
Guess and put in the correct order:

1. VP - President - Speaker - designated survivor
2. Designated survivor - VP - President - Speaker
3. President - VP - Speaker - designated survivor
4. Speaker - VP - President - designated survivor

Recap/starter: what is a bicameral
system? And does the US have one?

00:45

Donkey vs elephant: Which animal is the symbol of which American party and what
do they represent?

Democrats 

blue donkey (strong willed) 

progressive 

left wing 

Joe Biden 

Barack O'bama

Bill Clinton 

JFK

Republicans 

red elephant  (strong)

conservative 

right wing 

Donald Trump

George Bush 

George Bush 

Ronald  Reagan 

The parties

0

What are the requirements for a presidential candidate?

How to become president:
put in the correct order

1. primaries/caucuses - national convention - campaigning - electoral college
2. primaries/caucuses - electoral college - electoral college - campaigning
3. national convention - campaigning electoral college - primaries/caucuses
4. electoral college - campaigning - national convention - primaries/caucuses

How to become president? 

Presidential elections: every 4 years 

1. primaries/caucuses             Feb - Jun

= state elections for presidential candidates 

Super Tuesday (March)

2. National Conventions July -Aug

= parties select presidential nominee + running mate (= future VP) 

How to become president? 

Presidential elections: every 4 years 

3. Campaigning                      till Nov.

focus on Swing States

4. General election              Nov. 3rd

= vote for electoral college (indirect)

= 538 electors (in Dutch?)

= winner needs ......? votes

= first-past-the-post system

5. Inauguration                        Jan 

Electoral college

= indirect election 

• what is its function?
• in Dutch?  
• why 538 members? 

 435 .... + 100 .... + 3 .....? 

• how many votes does a candidate need? 

In 2016 Hillary Clinton lost the
elections from Donald Trump but won the popular vote - explain

Main similarities political system UK/USA/The Netherlands 

The Netherlands

1. many parties (37!) 
   
2. proportional representation
   
3. bicameral system 

        - 2e kamer en de 1e kamer

   4. monarchy

Complete....

UK 

1.  

2.  

3.  

4. 

USA 

1.  

2. 

3.

4. 

POTUS
FLOTUS
VP
Executive power
to pledge allegiance
designated survivor
to serve 2 terms in office
Inaugural Address

Recap: translate into Dutch 

And do you know these holidays? 

UK

Poppy Day - 11/11 - synonym? 

Guy Fawkes' Night - 5/11 - synonym?

Bank holidays 

Boxing Day - ? 

US 

Indepence day - 4/7 

Thanksgiving - Nov 

Halloween - 31/10

Labor Day - 1/9 

US Politics - KennisLand&Samenleving

Goal: 

• to learn more about the US political system
• to learn more about the difference between the political system in the US and the Netherlands

Any questions about the handout?