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Comparative Political Systems and Civic Education: From Democracy to Mafia…
Comparative Political Systems and Civic Education: From Democracy to Mafia in the U.S.
Systems of Government: British vs American Model
Presidential Democracy (USA)
Head of State and Government: the President, elected directly by the people
Fixed mandate (4 years), not removable by Parliament (unless impeached)
Separation of powers: strict division between executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Checks and balances: each power limits the other, ensuring balance
Parliamentary Monarchy (UK)
Head of State: the Monarch, symbol of continuity and national identity (currently King Charles III)
Head of Government: the Prime Minister, chosen by Parliament and dependent on its confidence
Fusion of powers: the executive (PM + Cabinet) comes from the legislative (House of Commons)
Monarch has no real power, acts only on advice of ministers → symbolic authority
The Three Branches of Power in the U.S. Political System
Executive
Led by the President
Includes Vice President and Cabinet members (ministers of different departments)
Implements and enforces laws
Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
Can veto laws passed by Congress
Legislative
Congress: bicameral
Senate (100 members, 2 per state)
House of Representatives (435 members, based on population)
Writes and approves laws, declares war, approves budget and presidential appointments
Judicial
Supreme Court: highest authority (9 justices)
Interprets the Constitution
Can strike down laws or executive actions deemed unconstitutional
The Power of the U.S. President
Key Powers
Commander-in-chief of the military
Chief diplomat: signs treaties (approved by Senate)
Chief legislator: proposes laws, can veto bills
Head of the executive: appoints Cabinet, agency heads, judges (with Senate approval)
Limits
Checks and balances prevent abuse of power
Congress can override vetoes, control the budget
Supreme Court can declare executive actions unconstitutional
Congress can impeach and remove the President
The Race to the White House: From Caucuses to Election Day
Step-by-Step
Caucuses and Primaries
State-level contests (January–June of election year)
Choose delegates who support candidates
Caucus: public meeting (e.g. Iowa)
Primary: secret ballot (e.g. New Hampshire)
National Conventions (Summer)
Each party officially nominates its presidential candidate
Running mate (Vice President) is chosen
Party platform is defined
General Election Campaign
Debates, rallies, fundraising
Key role of swing states
Election Day: The First Tuesday After the First Monday in November
Chosen for historical and practical reasons:
November: harvest over, good weather
Tuesday: avoids Sunday (church) and Monday (travel)
First Monday rule: never on Nov. 1 (All Saints’ Day, accounting day)
Electoral College Vote (December)
Citizens vote → electors vote → president elected
Inauguration Day: January 20th of the following year
Civic Education Focus – Mafia in the United States: Origins and Today
Origins
The mafia in the U.S. began with Italian immigration in the late 19th century
Early presence in New Orleans and then in New York, Chicago, Boston
Brought secret codes of omertà (silence) and familial loyalty
Linked to poverty, discrimination, and lack of protection for immigrants
The Golden Age – 1920s to 1960s
Prohibition Era (1920-1933): organized crime exploded (alcohol smuggling)
Powerful families: Luciano, Genovese, Gambino
Activities: drug trafficking, gambling, racketeering, unions, extortion
The Mafia Commission created a national board of bosses
Mafia Today
Traditional mafia weakened but not extinct
Still active in money laundering, construction fraud, internet crime
Rise of other criminal networks (Russian, Asian, Latin American cartels)
Anti-mafia laws and international cooperation have reduced influence
Law and Reaction
FBI under J. Edgar Hoover initially denied mafia existence
1950s–60s: Kefauver Hearings and Valachi Testimony exposed the structure
RICO Act (1970): allowed prosecution for belonging to a criminal organization
Decline due to arrests, informants, and surveillance