Higher Modern Studies - USA

Question	Answer
Powers of the President - Assess effectiveness of Congress and Supreme Court in checking powers of the President.	- President is Chief Ambassador and head of State. He determines foreign policy and diplomacy and can appoint ambassadors and diplomats to rep the USA abroad and he may propose legislation at any given time. - Has power to issue Executive orders which have the force of law but require no approval from Congress. - In 2012 an EO on immigration was issued to the issue of children of illegal immigrants with work permits despite his DREAM immigration bill failing in Congress. - However, while Executive orders do not require Congressional approval, they may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Therefore another branch can impose control on him.
Powers of the President - Assess effectiveness of Congress and Supreme Court in checking powers of the President.	- The power of the veto is also important for the President. Allows right to reject legislation. An example of this is when former President George Bush vetoed a bill regarding the allowance of stem cell research in 2007. - However, a veto can be overturned by a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate and the House of Reps. - This actually happened to Bush in 2007 over a bill regarding spending on water projects. - Although President can reject a law, he can have his view overturned if there is a feeling against a decision he makes. - However, the President can overcome such a vote from the Senate and House of Reps by using pocket veto. Only be used at end of Congressional session and is rarely used.
Powers of the President - Assess effectiveness of Congress and Supreme Court in checking powers of the President.	- President may nominate executive branch officials, and Supreme Court Justices but he does require a majority vote in the Senate in order t confirm these appointments. - For example, President Obama appointed the Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor. - However, the president can us a "recess" appointment which bypasses the need for Senate approval. - In June 2014 Th Supreme Court delivered a blow to Pres Obama, ruling he went too far in making "recess" appointments to the Natonal Labor Relations Board.
Powers of the President - Assess effectiveness of Congress and Supreme Court in checking powers of the President.	- The President also has the power to negotiate treaties with other countries. For example, he is involved in the treaty on nuclear weapons which exists to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote peace worldwide. - However, they are required to be scrutinised by Congress and must achieve a 2/3 majority in the Senate.
Powers of the President - Assess effectiveness of Congress and Supreme Court in checking powers of the President.	- Supreme Court can strike down a law viewed as going against the Constitution. - In June 2013 the Court declared that the US federal law, Defense of the Marriage Act, which did recognise same sex marriages - was actually unconstitutional. - However, the President can have some influence as he can nominate a justice with similar opinions to him.
Government response to Soc and Ec inequalities - Health Care.	- Inequalities still exist in terms of health care. - Black American can expect to live 5 years less than Whites. - Made worse by fact Americans have to pay for their healthcare and limited help is available for those who cannot. - Medicare and Medicaid - two main policies funded by govt to aim and provide limited treatment to those who are older or too poor to pay for treatment. - These programmes are means tested and take income into account and tend to benefit Blacks more. - However, provide a limited health service and therefore their effectiveness can be questioned. - Obama has questioned USA's approach to healthcare and in 2010 new law was signed making it compulsory for Americans to participate in national health insurance scheme alongside employers. - But some Americans fear they will be paying just for poor's treatment. - Can be viewed as effective - 32% of Hispanics have no health insurance compared to 10% of Whites.
Government response to Soc and Ec inequalities - Education	- Tried to tackle issues and move away from affirmative action programmes such as bussing and a new approach has been introduced. - No Chid Left Behind Act 2001 - had aim of improving nation's performance in education and gave Americans chance to escape the cycle of poverty. - Act ensured that schools who failed to meet agreed targets would be rigorously inspected. - Act aims to address inequalities like only 13% of Blacks achieving degrees compared to 24% of Whites. - In recent yrs, record number of Blacks graduating from high school, showing policies have been successful.
Government response to Soc and Ec inequalities - Poverty	- 8% of Whites live in poverty compared to 23% of Blacks and 21% of Hispanics. - TO this end, TANF was introduced. It gave 5 years of welfare payments to those who needed it in return for them working and attending training courses. - While this scheme saw a huge drop in numbers claiming welfare, 60% of people on the scheme were left in low paid work after 5 yrs of temp assistance ended. - As 80% of those claiming TANF were black, it can be argued that TANF was not effective in reducing economic inequalities in the USA.
Government response to Soc and Ec inequalities - Income	- Wage lvels - inequals exist. - Blacks in American earn only 64% of what Whites earn on average and this means many Black families live in poverty or are close to it. - Whilst food stamps have been a regular feature in American welfare for years, around 45 mil now claim them. - Programme growing by about 20,000 claimants per day and although it provides necessary food for a family to survive, it does not aim to tackle route cause of the problems, and there is ineffective.
Analyse whether the USA welcomes immigrants	- Intro - Currently immigration is issue at centre of US politics which divides opinion among USA citizens. - Some agree with Bill C - "America has constantly drawn spirit from wave after wave of immigrants." However, not all aware as accommodating and believe immigrants have made a negative impact.
Analyse whether the USA welcomes immigrants	- Firstly, US rep of being land of the free - many feel imms make pos impact to culture. - Ethnic diversity provides new interests and cultures such as Italian food and the SPanish language - 2nd biggest in USA. Agreed most immigrants tend to be younger and most are active - America needs this to retain vibrancy. - However, some agree American culture appears to be overwhelmed and concerns about increasing crime rates in areas with high concentrations of imms. TENSION OBV AN ISSUE. - Eg in some states road signs are written in English but also Spanish - creates tension.
Analyse whether the USA welcomes immigrants	- US can be seen to welcome immigrants due to ec positives they bring. Many argue immigrants stimulate the ecnomy in terms of demand for housing, med care and education. - Immigrants do many of the low paid jobs that Americans do not want to do - welcome by employers who can have cheap workforce and maximise profits. - Obama passed exec order which gave legal status to the small subset of illegal imms who were brought to US before they turned 10 and have education or military service. - However, some states have brought in laws. Arizone state law on immigration (SB1070) makes illegal immigration a state problem and means local police can make lawful contact in order to check imm status of people who cause reasonable suspicion. - power to arrest if lack documents and this is negative as Hispanic community live in fear of being pulled over due to appearance. Around 70% support this law - not welcoming. - Alabama state legislation requires schools to find out whether their students are in country legally. State police has powers to detain anyone they suspect.
Analyse whether the USA welcomes immigrants	- US also not as welcoming as only 85k short term visas for skilled forein workers are available in any given year. - Although around 1 mil green cards are available which offer perm residency - these are expensive and difficult to obtain. - USA has attempted to welcome imms by creating pathway for illegal imms to gain citizenship. - Gang of 8 bill to increases number of visas for skilled workers. Aim to fund border surge to border security and allow illegal imms to become citizens if they pay taxes and stay out of crime. - despite Obama welcoming proposals, bill was defeated in house of reps where there are more Republicans. - things look unlikely to improve for immigrants as the Republicans are likely to maintain control of the House of Reps.
Analyse whether immigrants are welcome in the USA.	-The US has legislation in the constitution to guarantee all people living in USA written rights. - 15th amendment prohibits state govt from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race. - Encourages and welcomes immigrants - and so does the voting rights act 1965 as everyone is allowed to vote. - Ensures groups such as Hispanics who play an important role in elections have their views heard. 70% of Hisp voted Obama; so a key group. - However, the border shared with Mexico limits the welcome immigrants receive. - Stands with huge fences, armed guards and drones. - Over 2000 miles long and border enforcement costs $18 bn a yr. Clear govt wants to reduce immigration; not welcome.
EMs influential in politics?	- Intro - EMS rapidly growing group - make up over 35% of pop. - 3 maj groups - Hisp, Bla, Asians. - Although progress has been made, some argue not enough has been made.
EMs influential in politics?	Intro - EMs are rapidly growing and now make up over 35% of the US population. Three major group - Hispanics, Blacks and Asians. However, since re-election although there has been significant progress of influential figures in Congress, it is clear enough progress has not been made.
EMs influential in politics?	- Influential to certain degree in voting and registration. - Hisp - now incr important - one of fastest growing groups. - Maj ethnic group in California - Dems and Repubs keen on securing their vote. - Comprise 16% of population and now travelling around USA and influencing voting patterns.
EMs influential in politics?	- Althought Hisp participation increasing, many choose not to vote due to fact many are ill imms and not eligible to be US citizens, or are too young to comprehend procedure. - Rep party tend to attract wealthier Cuban Hispanics and Democrats attract Puerto Ricans and Mexicans. Widely stated Romney didn't pay as much attention to Hisp vote as he should have so lost election.
EMs influential in politics?	- EMS influential to a certain extent in voting and registration. - Hispanics in US politics - now increasingly more important due to fact they are one of the fastest growing. - Now maj eth group in California and this has led to Dems and Repubs being keen on securing their vote. - Hisp comprise around 20% of population and clear they are now travelling to diff part of US and influencing voting patterns.
EMs influential in politics?	- Blacks also increasingly important - account for around 15% of pop and has been a sig increase in Blacks voting since 1948. - 1948 - 12% of Black registered to vote -> by 1970s around 70%. - Motor voter laws - makes it easier to register to vote as this could be done with a driver's license and campaign made it easier for all groups to vote. - Maj-min districts were created which drew boundaries in a way which would give minorities a better chance of representation. - Black vote more imp than it was before. - Dems have encouraged most Blacks to vote for them - 95% of Blacks voted for Obama and this influenced outcome of election greatly. Dems on left of political spectrum and appeal to Blacks more.
EMs influential in politics?	- Asians are fastest growing group in USA and Dems and Reps also desp to get their vote. - 73% of Asians voted Democrat in 2012 and believe Dems best at dealing with discrimination they face. - Those from Vietnam tend to vote Reps as they are more business orientated.
EMs influential in politics?	- EMS now more influential through voting and registration BUT Whites still largest group in USA so have a large influence over who is elected. - EMs are influential in terms of political rep - 20% of COngress. - Blacks have overcome issues of under rep by forming caucus which plans voting strategies - major impact. - Hispanics influential to a certain extent. 32 congressmen/women but if repped in proportion this would be 70. - There has been growing success at state level but much is to be done.

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	Created by Daniel Cormack almost 9 years ago