Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Would America be better served by the westminster system of govt?

ElfBane · 11-10-2006, 10:51 AM

An epitome of the US system of government.

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EXECUTIVE Branch

PRESIDENT: Indirect popular election thru an Elecroral College. Example; Candidate A defeats candidate B 52% to 48% of the vote in the state of Florida....Candidate A will get ALL of Florida's Electoral votes. The Electoral votes are not devided proportionally, it's winner take all. This makes it possible for someone to become President and NOT win the popular vote. This happened in 2000, Bush won the Electoral vote but lost the popular vote.
President serves a 4 year term and can succeed himself once....twice if the total time in power does not exceed 10 years.
Can be impeached by the House of Representatives, upon which the Senate will try him. Conviction on a 2/3 majority.

VICE PRESIDENT: Appointed by the President. He serves as President of the Senate, and only votes in the event of a tie(ties are possible because there is always an even number of Senators).
Serves a 4 year term. Can be impeached by the House.
This position is an odd duck. Although appointed by the President, the VP is not beholden to him. Once affirmed as VP by the Congress, he can vote as he sees fit, and does not have to follow the Party Line. This is possible because his position is Constitutional.

SECRETARIES/ High ranking Undersecretaries:
Appointed by the President with the ADVICE and CONSENT of the Senate. Serve at the complete whim of the President, who can remove them at will. They are monitored for malfeasance by the Senate.

LEGISLATIVE Branch

SENATORS: Elected for 6 year terms. Two senators per state. The entire Senate is never voted on at once. Every 2 years 1/3 of the Senate comes up for election/re-election.
This body has limited power of the purse. The Senate also is the main watchdog of the Executive branch of government.

REPRESENTATIVES: Elected for 2 year terms. The entire House of Representatives is up for election every 2 years.
The main power of this body is that they have COMPLETE power of the PURSE. This body controls the money. Enough said.

JUDICIARY Branch

SUPREME Court Justices: Appointed by the President for life, with the ADVICE and CONSENT of the Senate. Once approved by the Senate, Justices are no longer beholden to the President. They serve until death or retirement. There are 9 of them and their job is to interpret the Constitution.

LOWER Court Justices: Same as above, except there are many more of them. They staff the lower judicial circuits.

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Well, I hope this makes it clear as mud.

11-10-2006, 10:51 AM	#23
ElfBane Mephistopheles Join Date: March 21, 2004 Location: Cape Canaveral, FL Age: 69 Posts: 1,443	An epitome of the US system of government. -------------------- EXECUTIVE Branch PRESIDENT: Indirect popular election thru an Elecroral College. Example; Candidate A defeats candidate B 52% to 48% of the vote in the state of Florida....Candidate A will get ALL of Florida's Electoral votes. The Electoral votes are not devided proportionally, it's winner take all. This makes it possible for someone to become President and NOT win the popular vote. This happened in 2000, Bush won the Electoral vote but lost the popular vote. President serves a 4 year term and can succeed himself once....twice if the total time in power does not exceed 10 years. Can be impeached by the House of Representatives, upon which the Senate will try him. Conviction on a 2/3 majority. VICE PRESIDENT: Appointed by the President. He serves as President of the Senate, and only votes in the event of a tie(ties are possible because there is always an even number of Senators). Serves a 4 year term. Can be impeached by the House. This position is an odd duck. Although appointed by the President, the VP is not beholden to him. Once affirmed as VP by the Congress, he can vote as he sees fit, and does not have to follow the Party Line. This is possible because his position is Constitutional. SECRETARIES/ High ranking Undersecretaries: Appointed by the President with the ADVICE and CONSENT of the Senate. Serve at the complete whim of the President, who can remove them at will. They are monitored for malfeasance by the Senate. LEGISLATIVE Branch SENATORS: Elected for 6 year terms. Two senators per state. The entire Senate is never voted on at once. Every 2 years 1/3 of the Senate comes up for election/re-election. This body has limited power of the purse. The Senate also is the main watchdog of the Executive branch of government. REPRESENTATIVES: Elected for 2 year terms. The entire House of Representatives is up for election every 2 years. The main power of this body is that they have COMPLETE power of the PURSE. This body controls the money. Enough said. JUDICIARY Branch SUPREME Court Justices: Appointed by the President for life, with the ADVICE and CONSENT of the Senate. Once approved by the Senate, Justices are no longer beholden to the President. They serve until death or retirement. There are 9 of them and their job is to interpret the Constitution. LOWER Court Justices: Same as above, except there are many more of them. They staff the lower judicial circuits. ------------------- Well, I hope this makes it clear as mud. __________________ They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759. Iraq and Afghan fatalities: 6,855 and counting. Silence IS consent.