USA govenment+school+details.docx

1、USA govenment+school+detailsU.S. Government Introduction The United States is a federal union of 50 states, with the District of Columbia as the seat of the federal government. The Constitution outlines the structure of the national government and specifies its powers and activities, and defines the

2、 relationship between the national government and individual state governments. Power is shared between the national and state (local) governments. Within each state are counties, townships, cities and villages, each of which has its own elective government. Governmental power and functions in the U

3、nited States rest in three branches of government: the legislative, judicial, and executive. Article 1 of the Constitution defines the legislative branch and vests power to legislate in the Congress of the United States. The executive powers of the President are defined in Article 2. Article 3 place

4、s judicial power in the hands of one Supreme Court and inferior courts as Congress sees necessary to establish. In this system of a separation of powers each branch operates independently of the others, however, there are built in checks and balances to prevent a concentration of power in any one br

5、anch and to protect the rights and liberties of citizens. For example, the President can veto bills approved by Congress and the President nominates individuals to serve in the Federal judiciary; the Supreme Court can declare a law enacted by Congress or an action by the President unconstitutional;

6、and Congress can impeach the President and Federal court justices and judges. U.S. EconomyThe events of 2001 brought new challenges for the U.S. economy and for Americas economic policy. The war against terrorism also placed new demands on the economy.The United States entered the 21st century with

7、an economy that was bigger, and by many measures more successful, than ever. Though the United States held less than 5 percent of the worlds population, it accounted for more than 25 percent of the worlds economic output. In the 1990s, the American economy recorded the longest uninterrupted period o

8、f expansion in its history. A wave of technological innovations in computing, telecommunications, and the biological sciences were profoundly affecting how Americans work and play.The United States remains a market economy. Americans continue to believe that an economy generally operates best when d

9、ecisions about what to produce and what prices to charge for goods are made through the give-and-take of millions of independent buyers and sellers, not by government or by powerful private interests.Besides believing that free markets promote economic efficiency, Americans see them as a way of prom

10、oting their political values as well - especially, their commitment to individual freedom and political pluralism and their opposition to undue concentrations of power. The American belief in free enterprise has not precluded a major role for government, however. Americans at times have looked to go

11、vernment to break up or regulate companies that appeared to be developing so much power that they could defy market forces. They have relied on government to address matters the private economy overlooks, from education to protecting the environment. And despite their advocacy of market principles,

12、they have used government at times to nurture new industries, and at times even to protect American companies from competition. American HolidaysAmerican Holidays is an introductory survey of the historical and social background of American holidays. People in every culture celebrate holidays. Altho

13、ugh the word holiday literally means holy day, most American holidays are not religious, but commemorative in nature and origin. Because the nation is blessed with rich ethnic heritage it is possible to trace some of the American holidays to diverse cultural sources and traditions, but all holidays

14、have taken on a distinctively American flavor. In the United States, the word holiday is synonymous with celebration!” In the strict sense, there are no federal (national) holidays in the United States. Each of the 50 states has jurisdiction over its holidays. In practice, however, most states obser

15、ve the federal (legal or public ) holidays, even though the President and Congress can legally designate holidays only for federal government employees. The following ten holidays per year are proclaimed by the federal government. New Years DayJanuary 1 Martin Luther King Daythird Monday in JanuaryW

16、ashingtons Birthday third Monday in FebruaryMemorial Day last Monday in MayIndependence DayJuly 4Labor Dayfirst Monday in SeptemberColumbus Daysecond Monday in OctoberVeterans DayNovember 11 Thanksgiving Dayfourth Thursday in NovemberChristmas DayDecember 25In 1971, the dates of many federal holiday

17、s were officially moved to the nearest Monday by then-President Richard Nixon. There are five holidays which are not necessarily celebrated on Mondays: Thanksgiving Day, Veterans Day, New Years Day, Independence Day and Christmas Day. When New Years Day, Independence Day, or Christmas Day falls on a

18、 Sunday, the next day is also a holiday. When one of these holidays falls on a Saturday, the previous day is also a holiday. Federal government offices, including the post office, are always closed on all federal holidays. Schools and businesses close on major holidays like Independence Day and Chri

19、stmas Day but may not always be closed, for example, on Presidents Day or Veterans Day. Federal holidays are observed according to the legislation of individual states. The dates of these holidays, and others, are decided upon by each state government, not by the federal (national) government. Each

20、state can agree on the same date that the President has proclaimed, such as Thanksgiving Day. State legislation can also change the date of a holiday for its own special commemoration. Cities and towns can decide not to celebrate a federal legal holiday at all. However, the majority of the states (a

21、nd the cities and towns within them) usually choose the date or day celebrated by the rest of the nation. There are other legal or public holidays which are observed at the state or local level. The closing of local government offices and businesses will vary. Whether citizens have the day off from

22、work or not depends on local decisions.Christmas is a most important religious holy day for Christians, who attend special church services to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Christmas is not only a religious holy day, but became one of the first federal holidays in 1870. On this day most b

23、usinesses and offices remain closed and the greatest possible number of workers, including government employees, have the day off. Many places even close early on the day before. Naturally Christians observe Christmas according to the traditions of their particular church. Besides the strictly relig

24、ious traditions, however, other common Christmas practices are observed by people who are not religious or who are not Christian. In this way, some Christmas traditions have become American traditions.Gift-giving is so common at Christmas time that for most stores it means a sharp increase in sales.

25、 Stores, in fact, are full of shoppers from Thanksgiving time in late November until the day before Christmas. This situation has caused many religious people to complain that the religious meaning of Christmas is being subverted, that Christmas has become commercial. Despite the criticism, Christma

26、s shopping is a major activity of many Americans in the month of December. Gifts are given to children, members of the family and close friends. They are given to people who have done favors to others or who work for them. Some people bake cookies or make candies or other special food treats for fri

27、ends and neighbors. Many businesses give their workers a Christmas bonus - gifts of extra money - to show appreciation for their work. Christmas is also a time when most Americans show great generosity to other less fortunate than they. They send money to hospitals or orphanages or contribute to fun

28、ds that help the poor.Holiday Shopper in New York City. Photo by Heather Schmaedeke for the U.S. Census Bureau.Most Americans send greeting cards to their friends and family at Christmas time. Some people who are friends or relatives and live great distances from each other may not be much in contac

29、t with each other during year - but will usually exchange greeting cards and often a Christmas letter telling their family news.The decorating of homes for Christmas is very common. Most American who observe Christmas have a Christmas tree in their homes. This may be a real evergreen tree or an arti

30、ficial one. In either case, the tree is decorated and trimmed with small lights and ornaments. Other decorations such as lights and wreaths of evergreen and signs wishing a Merry Christmas can be found inside and outside of many homes. Halloween, the last day of October10-31, has a special significa

31、nce for children, who dress in funny or ghostly costumes and knock on neighborhood doors shouting Trick or Treat! Pirates and princesses, ghosts and witches all hold bags open to catch the candy or other goodies that the neighbors drop in. Since the 800s November 1st is a religious holiday known as

32、All Saints Day. The Mass that was said on this day was called All Hallowmas. The evening before became known as All Hallow een, or Halloween. Like some other American celebrations, its origins lie in both pre-Christian and Christian customs. Today school dances and neighborhood parties called block parties are popular among young and old alike. More and more adults celebrate Halloween. They dress up as historical or political figures and go to masquerade parties. In larger cities, costumed children and their parents gather at shopping malls