United States of America is a North American country located on the shores of the Pacific ocean, and the Atlantic ocean, sharing a border with Canada and Mexico. The population of this country is approx 34,02,11,000 with 37,96,742 square kilometers area. Ethnically, 61% are white, 12% are black, and the remaining 27% are Latino, South Asian, Chinese, Native American, etc. The official language is English. 67% of the residents are Christian, of whom a third are Catholic. 25% are not affiliated with any religion.
To become a senator or representative, one must be a resident of the state from which one is elected at the time of the election. To become the President of the United States, one must be a natural born American citizen and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years before running for office. An outsider will never feel any emotional attachment to the constituency, which is why the residency requirement is essential. It is not possible for someone to fly in from a different electoral constituency and sit in another constituency to take over.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
The American parliament, ‘Congress’, can expel a member with the consent of two-thirds of the members. This provision is dangerous, because this practice can become a dictatorship of the majority.
The method of electing the President of the United States is more complex compared to many other countries, and it is conducted through the “Electoral College system.” The election is held every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November. But this vote does not directly determine the President. It is determined by the Electoral College. The United States, including its 50 states and Washington, D.C., has a total of 538 electors. Each state receives as many electors as it has members in Congress (Senators + House Representatives). A candidate must receive at least 270 electoral votes to become President. That is, the general public votes in favor of a candidate, and then the electors of each state vote in December based on their state's results. In most states, the “Winner takes all” policy applies - meaning the candidate who gets the most votes in that state receives all of its electoral votes. On January 6, the electoral votes are counted in Congress. After that, on January 20, the new President takes the oath of office.
Who becomes a member of the Electoral College, and who selects them? Electors are individuals who vote for the President and Vice President based on the votes of the general public. Usually, electors are loyal and senior members of political parties, former politicians of the state, donors, or popular community leaders. Each political party nominates its electors in each state. Every presidential candidate’s party (such as Democrat or Republican) prepares a list of electors for each state. When the general public votes in the presidential election, they are essentially voting for the elector panel of that candidate’s party. On election day, the electors of the party whose candidate receives the most votes in the state are the ones who are selected. For example, let’s say California has 55 electoral votes. The Democratic Party nominates 55 electors. The Republican Party also nominates 55 electors. If, on election day, the people of California give more votes to the Democrat candidate, then all 55 electors of the Democrat Party are selected, and they are the ones who vote for the President in December. Can electors vote independently? Generally, no, but in some states, electors can vote differently from their party’s decision. However, in many states, this is legally prohibited or punishable.
There have been multiple instances in the history of the United States where a candidate received more popular votes but still lost in the Electoral College. This is because in the U.S. presidential election, it is the Electoral College - not the direct popular vote - that ultimately decides the winner. Currently, Donald Trump is the President. In his first term, he received over 6,29,84,828 votes. His opponent, Hillary Clinton, received over 6,58,53,514 votes - about 2.9 million more than Trump. However, in the Electoral College, Hillary received 227 votes, while Trump received 304 votes and thus won the election. The presidential election system in a democratic country like the United States is a terrible mess. What's the problem with electing the president directly by popular vote?
The shape of the states is also not the same. The laws of each state are different.
American rule is not effective everywhere in America. There are 574 'tribes' or 'indigenous groups' recognized by the US government in America. They have their own governments. There are a total of 326 'Indian reservations', which are reserved only for them and where they can administer their own laws and governance. They are not fully independent states, but have certain autonomy and entities within the United States. The concept of 'tribe' or 'indigenous group' is strange in the 21st century. Why would anyone be considered special?
In almost all other countries in the world, amendments directly replace, add, and subtract from the original constitution, as in the case of amendments - here the amendments are completely different. The whole presentation is somewhat uncomfortable.
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is extremely controversial. Through it, citizens enjoy the so-called freedom to bear arms. Gun laws in Europe are extremely strict, and crime is relatively low there. And in America, crime is relatively high. Out of 340 million inhabitants, about 2 million people are currently in prison. According to the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ‘Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed’. Can the definition of ‘Excessive’ differ according to place, time, person?
Admirable Articles of United States of America's Constitution
Article I
Section 2 (Part of it)
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Section 3 (Part of it)
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
Section 8 (Part of it)
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Article II
Section 1 (Part of it)
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Amendments.
Amendment XIII
Section 1
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Facts of United States of America's Constitution
Article I
Section 4
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5 (Part of it)
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Article II
Section 1 (Part of it)
The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representatives from each State having one Vote; a quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice-President.
The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
Amendments.
The Bill of Rights
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
