US political system + presidential election
· the supreme law of the land is the Constitution of the United States; the Constitution provides for a union of states, now numbering 50, each with its own constitution, republican form of government, and reserved powers, within a federal system; the national government is responsible for external affairs, and has concurrent powers with states, commonwealths, and self-governing territories over domestic matters
Executive :
· the American president typically has a greater range of functions than prime ministers in parliamentary governments because the president serves as ceremonial chief of state as well as head of government; article II of the Constitution provides for a president and vice president chosen by a majority of voters in the Electoral College, for a fixed term of four years, the 22nd Amendment (1951) limits presidents to two terms in office.
Presidential elections :
· the Electoral College nominally chooses the president and vice president of the United States; this group comprises the electors from the separate states who are selected by the voters in presidential elections. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to the total number of senators and representatives it sends to the US Congress, therefore at least three electors; than the House of Representatives votes state by state to choose the president, and the Senate votes as individuals to elect the vice president