The U.S. federal government has three branches namely the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial branches. This system ensures that power is evenly distributed in order to prevent the development of monopoly of power. The president oversees the Executive with the help of the vice president and 15 Cabinet members. The constitution endows the president with power to make decisions with regard to the role played by the Executive.
In addition, the president has the power to choose a vice president and cabinet members. Cabinet members head the various departments of government like Education, Interior, and Defense. The roles of the Executive include enforcement of laws, representation of the U.S. in political and economic undertakings, and protection of the nation. The Legislative branch has two main roles.
These include enactment of laws that govern citizens and allocation of funds for proper management of the federal government and the states. This branch comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each of these sections plays a different role and has a different composition.
For instance, the Senate is made up of 100 senators elected by citizens while the House of Representatives comprises 435 derived from the states based on their population. Two senators represent each of the 50 states. Finally, the Judicial arm of government is made up of two sections namely the Supreme Court and the Federal courts. The Supreme Court is made up of nine justices who are elected by the leader of the Executive.
The senators created the federal courts in order to make the work of the Supreme Court easy. However, they are not recognized by the American constitution.
Major and minor political parties between 1870 and 1900
Between the years 1870 and 1900, there were two main political parties in the United States namely the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Each of these parties had different ideologies and supporters. The Democratic Party became popular in the South after the civil war. At the time, African Americans were not allowed to take part in national elections.
In the North and west, the party enjoyed great support from different group including farmers, workers, and immigrants. In addition, it received great support from businesspeople who were opposed to the Civil War. The party’s ideologies included low tariffs, opposition of numerous reforms including prohibition, and support of conservative policies that controlled all aspects of the country’s economy.
The management of the party was taken over by business people from the North a few years after the end of the Civil War. The Republican Party received support from African Americans, professionals, business people from the northern parts of America and artisans. Its political ideologies advocated for better learning methods, establishment of metropolitan centers, and equitable allocation of land in order to different groups.
In addition, it supported moral reforms and expansion of national economic interests. One of the smaller parties was referred to as the People’s Party. Its membership comprised farmers from the West and South. The party supported the idea of government owning all railroads and controlling all activities related to commerce. It had some representatives in Congress but its popularity waned after its failure to win national election.
The party later joined forces with the Democratic Party. Small parties had little influence in the political affairs of the country. Rutherford B. Hayes was a Democrat president who ended Reconstruction and fought corruption. In addition, he refused to endorse a decision by Congress to ban Chinese immigration. Chester A. Arthur was a Republican president who signed the Pendleton Act.
The act established the Civil Service Commission that created a test that individuals seeking jobs in government were required to pass. Grover Cleveland was a Democratic president who was famous for his leadership of delegation and effective foreign affairs policies. For example, he used the Monroe Doctrine to resolve a boundary feud between British Guiana and Venezuela.
Progressivism in America
Progressivism refers to efforts by social movements to improve the lives of Americans between the 1890s and 1920s. The Progressive movement sought to regulate the activities of large corporations, end corruption in government, and improve the lives of citizens by advocating for effective social policies. The movement was opposed to the idea that the church was the most effective driver of change in America.
For that reason, the movement believed that the government was responsible for solving social problems and promoting fairness in economic matters. Members of the movement believed that they could end corruption by taming politicians and their political bases of influence. Progressive measures are present today in form of legislation and government programs. Three such measures or programs include the, Social Security, and Antitrust law.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act illegalizes bribery of foreign diplomats by Americans in order to fight corruption by government officials. Social Security is a program that strives to promote the social welfare of Americans. It gives retirement benefits to retirees in order to enable them live well in their old age.
Finally, the antitrust law promotes fair competition among businesses by illegalizing business practices such as price-fixing and monopoly. The law creates a level ground for competition and promotes public welfare by requiring businesses to sell quality products to consumers at affordable prices.