Can you name all the states
of America?

You have 5 minutes to name as
many American states as you
can!
50 States
 Alabama
 Kentucky
 New Mexico
 Tennessee
 Alaska
 Louisiana
 New York
 Texas
 Arizona
 Maine
 North
 Utah
 Arkansas
 Maryland
 California
 Massachuse
 Colorado
 Connecticut

 Delaware

 Florida

 Georgia

 Hawaii

 Idaho

 Illinois

 Indiana

 Iowa
 Kansas

tts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New
Hampshire
New Jersey








Carolina
North
Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvani
a
Rhode
Island
South
Carolina
South
Dakota
 Vermont
 Virginia
 Washington
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin
 Wyoming
Southern Slave states (grey)
How does the US government work?

There are 2 main political parties – the
Democrats and Republicans. The
presidential candidates are elected by
State delegates of their parties at the
National Convention.
Party politics – post WWI
Woodrow Wilson was a Democrat – his
League of Nations proposal split the Party.
Some believed his idealism was
commendable while others believed he was
giving too many concessions.
 The Republicans were not invited to
negotiations which angered them.
 The Democrats were also split on the
amendment of Prohibition (banning of
alcohol)

REPUBLICANS WON A
LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN
1920 because they
promised to:
1. RAISE TARIFFS
2.RESTRICT
IMMIGRATION
3.HELP FARMERS
Principles of American politics
1900s RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM AKA
LAISSEZ FAIRE – whereby the
American government had little
involvement in the lives of citizens or
how the economy was run.
 PROGRESSIVISM was a shift in this
view towards greater democracy,
honest government and more effective
controls over business.

 During Wilson’s term more progressive
policies were passed indicating the
Democrat’s move away from Laissez-faire.
RUGGED
INDIVIDUALISM
ACTIVE
GOVERNMENT
THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
Makes the country’s laws
House of
Representatives
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Administers the country
Senate
Secretaries –
appointed by the
President
CONGRESS
Vice-President
– elected with
the President
THE PRESIDENT
Elect
Electoral Voters
Elect
THE PEOPLE
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
Explains and interprets the laws and
the Constitution
THE SUPREME COURT
Appointed by the
President with the
advice and consent of
the Senate
Elect
NB The rules and arrangements for the Government of
the USA shown here are laid down in the Constitution.
This written document defines and limits the powers of
the Federal Government and divides them between the
Government’s three main branches – Legislative,
Executive and Judicial
Congress (Parliament)
House of Representatives =
Congressmen/congresswomen
represent individual districts within
each state
 Senate = 2 representatives from each
state are in the Senate

How are legal decisions made?
Amendments to the constitution need to
be passed by House of Representatives
and the Senate, ¾ of States must agree
for it to be passed.
 The Supreme Court have the final legal
say over whether a proposal is deemed
to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL (going
against the American constitution)

The American Government
1. What is meant by a Federal system of Government?
2. What is the role of the following within the American
system of Government:
a) Executive
b) Legislature
c) Judiciary?
3. What is the Constitution of the USA?
4. Why can the President often find it difficult to govern
effectively?
5. What were the main differences between the
Democrat and Republican political parties?
End of Lesson quiz
What is the constitution?
2. How much support is needed to pass an
amendment?
3. How is Congress divided?
4. Who sits in the Senate?
5. Who sits in the House of Representatives?
6. Who are the two main political parties in
America?
1.