1、Location mainland: in the central part of North America Alaska: border northwestern Canada 1959, 49th state Hawaii: in the central Pacific Ocean 1959, 50th state Surroundings (mainland) on the north Canada on the south - the Gulf of Mexico on the east - the Atlantic Ocean on the west - the Pacific O
2、cean Administrative Region 50 states mainland - 48 states detached territory - Alaska offshore islands - Hawaii Washington D.C. a federal district of Columbia Three distinct areas (1) the eastern part (2) the western part (3) the Great Plains five Great Lakes Mississippi River The Great Lakes (fresh
3、water) Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Erie Lake Ontario Lake Michigan Niagara Falls between Lake Erie If passed, the ill becomes an Act. 8.The Act goes to the President for approval: If the President signs it, it becomes Law; If the Act is vetoed by the President, 9.Congress can override it by a 2/3
4、majority 2.The Executive (Administration)总统 行政 The President is the head of state and the head of government as well in the US rare throughout the world President: the chief of executive branch Cabinet: major source of advice & assistance to the President Secretaries: heads of 14 departments & other
5、 independent agencies who form the Cabinet President the First citizen His wife the First Lady Presidents power or authority of office 1.Manage national affairs & the working of the federal government 2.Issue executive orders, including rules, regulations & instructions 3.Act as Commander-in-Chief t
6、o raise, train, supervise & deploy armed forces 4.Control foreign policy 5.Hold significant influence in law-making 6.Influence the decision of the federal courts 7.Nominate justices of the Supreme Court Under the President: 1.The Cabinet a nucleus of leadership a presidential council the heads of t
7、he major department other persons chosen by President 2.The National Security Council Prerequisites of being a President A natural-born American citizen At least 35 years of age A resident of the US for at least 14 years Service term Two successive four-year terms Residential place The White House E
8、xtent of authority ask Congress for every dollar of his administrations office funds his nomination and foreign treaties must be confirmed by the Senate report to Congress on his military actions abroad for approval Congress can impeach him if he abuses his power or commits a crime 3. The Judiciary
9、A. Federal judicial system: the Supreme Court the courts of appeals the district courts Supreme Court the highest court of the US Chief Justice of the United States 8 Associate Justices each has one vote decisions made by the majority all appointed by the President with the Senates approval and can
10、only be removed by the Congress The major powers of the Supreme Court a) b) c) d) e) The powers limited by the President Congress may impeach and convict any federal judges, and may propose an amendment to the Constitution if the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional. Opening time: first Mon
11、day of October till middle of next June 9 months The courts of appeals (上诉法院) share the burden of the Supreme Court the whole US is divided into 12 appeal regions each region has a court with several judges The district court lowest in federal judicial system the 50 states divided into 94 federal ju
12、dicial districts each district has a district court its decisions can be reviewed by the court of appeals if necessary B. The state judicial system courts of law a police force a prison system All Courts Practice The jury system & common law All the criminals are called suspects before sentencing Th
13、e death penalty In June, 1972 the Supreme Court of the US declared capital punishment, or the death penalty, to be unconstitutional. In July, 1976 the Supreme Court declared the death penalty could be constitutional for crimes of murder in certain circumstances. But at the beginning of the year 1981
14、, the state of California did not have laws permitting the death penalty. III. Political Parties A two-party system dominates the US the Democratic Party donkey the Republican Party elephant Democratic Party enjoys a long history Original members: labor, minorities & progressive reformers End of 18t
15、h century, Jeffersons supporters called themselves Democratic Republicans Their belief is to advocate popular government and to oppose monarchism The Partys present name is adopted in 1830s The leading party before the Civil War Republican Party Slavery-opposing northern capitalists First national c
16、onvention held in Feb. 1856, on it the present party name is used In 1860, Lincoln, the Republican candidate, was elected President and the Civil War broke afterwards. Only since WWII, two parties have held the presidency in turn Political Posture Democratic: liberal Republican: conservative This di
17、fference in ideology displays on economic & social issues & foreign affairs Democrats The government plays an important role in the economy and emphasizes full employment as a matter of national concern Favor civil rights laws A strong social security system Less restrictive abortion Republicans Fav
18、or a system which gives enterprises a greater freedom Demand that the government control inflation Stress the need for law and order Oppose complete governmental social programs Oppose free choice of abortion Adopt hard-line tactics in international relations/strong military assertive stand Internal
19、 system for both parties no membership card no dues no initiation ceremonies not required to attend meetings not have to vote for party candidates not have to pay for party expenses Party member is only an expression by the voter of which party they prefer IV. Election only the nominated candidates
20、have the chance to win a presidential election Two processes within a party: 1. the primary election (初选) having supporters chosen to convention 2. the national convention (全国代表大会) a presidential candidate chosen through ballot Resources of election expenditure 1.Personal fund-raising activities 2.C
21、andidates party 3.Grant from the government Election date first Tuesday of November every four years Two stages of the general election: 1. Choose presidential electors As party nominees, they are called Electoral College, 538, equal to the total number of the members in Congress. the winner-take-al
22、l practice: the regulation that the winner gets overall votes of a state 2. Electors voting V. Foreign Policy 1. Neutrality 2. Containment and Intervention 1. Neutrality President Wilsons Declaration of Neutrality President Wilsons Fourteen Points submitted to the Senate in 1918 Isolationism when WW
23、II broke out Neutrality legislation enacted from 1935 to 1937, prohibiting trade in arms with warring nations and requiring cash US entered the war after its five vessels were sunk in WWI America declared war on the Axis Powers after attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 in WWII Wartime objec
24、tives: 1. totally destruct the Axis Powers 2. establish a world order in accord with US ideals and interests 2. Containment and Intervention Containment Power: homeland undamaged in 2 WWs Beliefs: to maintain the democratic structure confident of mission granted by the Heaven Launched the Cold War P
25、ostwar policy was containment Inspired a wave of anti-Communism Invention 1.Struggle/scramble for middle or small countries with USSR 2.Eisenhower authorized CIA to secretly intervene unfriendly nations, to protect reliable anti-Communist leaders 3.Topple governments of other countries 4.Fostering p
26、uppet regimes Chapter 11 Economy Basic Features: economic & technological superpower free enterprise system based on the belief on personal freedom I. History of American Economy II. Current American Economy I. History of American Economy 1. The Colonial Period 2. Since American Independence (a smal
27、l, independent farming economy) 3. The 20th Century (a highly complex, industrial economy) 1.The Colonial Period (early period 1780s) Early settlers reasons to US: profitable, religious & political Charter companies sought personal economic gain wanted to advance Britains national goals THE MOTIVE /
28、 DRIVING FORCE TO THE ECONOMY The development of the secondary industries the development of industries regional patterns of development STANDARD OF LIVING IN US GENERALLY HIGHER IN BRITAIN Political demand from North taxation disputes the emerging middle classes rallying cry of inalienable rights t
29、o life, liberty, and property 2. Since American Independence (1780s 19th cent.) US Constitution: an economic charter 1.Regulate commerce with foreign nations & among the states 2.Establish uniform bankruptcy laws 3.Create money & regulate its value 4.Fix standards of weights & measures 5.Establish p
30、ost offices & roads 6.Fix rules governing patents & copyrights=intellectual property Alexander Hamilton: one of the nations founding fathers first Secretary of the Treasury 1.Advocated an economic development strategy, providing weak industries with overt subsidies & imposing protective tariffs on i
31、mports 2.Urged the federal government to create a national bank, assuming the public debts first NBUS chartered in 1791 The Industrial Revolution US in late 18th & early 19th Northeast: urbanized industry South: a national bank code drafted industrialists dominated nations life the Civil War freed t
32、he great power of productivity an explosion or second industrial revolution 3. The 20th Century Great Depression & New Deal the collapse of prices on the New York Stock Exchange in October 1929, a major factor in the early stages of the Depression 1.Deal with the banking crisis 2.Sit up the New York
33、 State Emergency Relief Commission to help the desperated 3.Relieve the misery for unemployed Established IMF & WB after WWII 1950s: A period of consolidation for businesses by ensuring an open, capitalist, international economy 1960s-1970s: a time of great change President Johnsons Great Society Me
34、dicare Food Stamps Education Initiatives End of 1970s, economic Early 1980s, Reagans monetarist policies to fight inflation: 1.increasing the supply of money flowing, rigorous controlling over govern. spending deficit. 2. cutting taxes & raising interest rates President George H W Bush: a recession
35、Under Bill Clinton: at first, grew slowly then recovered more quickly as measures taken by Bush began to bear fruit Since 1990s, longest peacetime expansion in history II. Current American Economy 1.Agriculture 2.Manufacturing Industry 3.Service Industry 4.High-tech Industry 5.Foreign Trade 1. Agric
36、ulture (Primary Industry) Enjoy special favors of nature vast farm land abundant water system, rainfall, snowfall, river & underground water ideal conditions for irrigation & large-scale agriculture Large capital investments, highly trained labor force & advanced technology Agribusiness Agricultural
37、 foreign trade Farming style: farm owners farmers tenant farmers migrant workers 2. Manufacturing Industry (Secondary Industry) 25 million workers Intensive form of heavy industry military industry, auto industry & aerospace industry The first assembly line Light industry 3. Service Industry (Tertia
38、ry Industry / Service Sector) Playing a significant role in the nations economy employment For the affluent: commercial banking, life insurance, real estate & law services Health care, education, government & social services Provided by the skilled poor covering 2 types: services to buildings & dwel
39、lings, retailing 4. High-tech Industry Ranking first in the world Playing an important role in the states economic growth The nation has been laying emphasis on technological innovations in Computing Telecommunications Biological sciences Space technology 5. Foreign Trade Transferring a domestic-ori
40、ented trade pattern to an internationally- oriented one About 10% exports of the worlds total Taking in the largest percentage of imports in the world Exerting tremendous influence on the world economy Chapter 12 Education, Media and Holidays I. Education II. Media III. Holidays and Festivals I. Edu
41、cation 1. Ideals of American Education 2. Educational System 1). Elementary and Secondary Education 2). Higher Education 3). Famous Universities 4). Multicultural Education 1.Ideal of American Education As many people as possible should have access to as much education as they want outcome of the Am
42、ericans assertions about equality among people Producing a society that is totally literate and local control The basic nature of knowledge & learning put more emphasis on developing critical thinking than acquiring quantities of facts express their own opinion in class Education: an individual bene
43、fit & a social necessity every American has the right & obligation to be educated knowledge alters ones fate. the future of the nation depends largely on education 2. Educational System 1).Elementary and Secondary Education School system: nursery school, daycare center kindergarten elementary school
44、 secondary school (junior high school senior high school) higher education (university college) Elementary school Secondary school junior high school senior high school Preparations for higher education no annual CEE, instead of a) high school records of years b) recommendation letters from former t
45、eachers c) impression in interviewing at univ. d) scores in SAT 2) Higher Education four categories of institutions a) university b) College: 4-year undergraduates c) Technical training institution d) Community college Undergraduate education 1.Degrees 2.Colleges 3.Distributions according to populat
46、ion Various institutions offered 1.a variety of schools from large comprehensive univ. to small traditional liberal arts 2.wide range from fine arts to career- oriented fields 3.distinctions 4.students choice of the institutions Administration body 1.Select president 2.Establish policies 3.Approve b
47、udget 4.Purchase & sale of real estate 5.Other major items Academic year Credit system Living accommodations Students financial resources Sports at a significant level Students clubs 3) Famous University The Ivy League Brown U. Rhode Island Columbia U. NY city NY Cornell U. New York Dartmouth College New Hampshire Harvard U. Massachu
