(2020年整理)美国概况考试复习资料 问题及简答.doc
1. How many states in the US?
50states
2. Which is the largest state in the main land? Texas
3. Which is the largest state in the whole country? Alaska
4. The youngest state of the US
Hawaii
5. How many colonies? The name of three parts.
13
New England
Middle Atlantic States
South Atlantic States
6. Try to describe the location of America. Northern Hemisphere
North pacific
Gulf of Mexico
North Atlantic Ocean
Mexico Canada
7. Three division geographically.
Highlands
Plain
Mountains
8. The backbone of the America. - The highest peak. Rocky & Mount Mitchell
9. The father of the water.
Mississippi River
10. The great lakes
Superior River
Michigan River
Huron River
Erie River
Ontario River
11. Crater Lake – The Deepest
12. The highest peak outside Alaska
Mount Whitney
13. The capital city of America & the famous river in Washington D.C Washington D.C & the Potomac River
14. The largest city in the US & the famous river in New York
New York & the Hudson River
15. The Melting Pot
It is metaphorically used to refer to the United States because it is a country of many ethnic groups from different parts of the world, who came to the New World to seek for freedom in politics or religion. They have been dissipating their different ethic cultures toward some “standard” by living and working together in the “melting pot” of the United States and gradually forming a new nation.
16. The first colony
White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (W ASPs)
17. The first west people
Anglo Saxon
18. The largest ethnic-racial minority group
African-American
19. The freedom of black people
Lincoln & Emancipation of Declaration in 1863
20. Hispanics refer to
Spanish
21. The Constitution
Was framed in Philadelphia in 1787 and ratified in 1789.
This is the first constitution in the world.
22. Check and balance
The Constitution follows two principles:
the federal system &
the “separation of powers.”
Two principles: federal; state principle for local
Three divisions:
23. The position of President
Commandeer-in-chief
Head of state
Chief executive
24. The power of president
The President has a veto power over bills passed by Congress.
The President has the power of appointing as many as thousands of officers.
The President has the power to conduct foreign affairs.
The President can make executive agreements with other countries without the approval of the Senate.
25. The power of congress
Congress has the power to make any laws that are considered “necessar y and proper.”
Congress has the power to impose taxes, decide the expenditures of the government, control trade with foreign nations, and establish and protect a monetary system.
Congress has the power to raise and maintain an army and a navy and declare war upon other countries.
26. Departments
Speaker of the House of Representatives 众议院长
President pro tempore of the Senate参议院临时主席
Secretary of State国务卿
Secretary of the Treasury财政部长
Secretary of Defense 国防部长
Attorney General 司法部长；最高法院院长
Postmaster General 邮政总长
Secretary of the Interior 内政部长
Secretary of Agriculture 农业部长
Secretary of Commerce 商业部长
Secretary of Labor 劳工部长
27. Five steps of Presidential Election
1.Primary (from February to June of the Election Year)
This is the election of delegates to the national conventions of the two parties.
2.The National Conventions
(in July or August)
Tasks:
To discuss and accept the party platform
To choose the presidential and vice presidential candidates
3.The Election Campaign
(from September to November)
4.The Election Day
(On the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November in
an election year)
5.Casting the Electoral V ote
(the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December in an election year)
28. The significance of discovery of new world.
Positive effects:
Widen people’s horizon
Opened up fresh ground for the rising bourgeoisie
Promoted the development of commerce, sea navigation and industry, and provided the way for the rapid development of early capitalism Passive effect :
After the discovery of the New World, the European powers sent many explorers to the new continents and they began to compete against each other in occupying the New World.
29. The May Flower Compact
Mayflower Compact was the plan of government sighted on the Mayflower by 41 English settlers off Cape Cod, on November 11, 1620, before landing and founding their settlement at Plymouth. The Mayflower Compact was a plan for a democratic society, and was a model for later colonies; its ideas lie behind (为某事的理由) the US Constitution of 1789.
30. The cause of the French Indian war
(1756-1763) Britain began to compete with France over the fur trade in the Ohio Valley
The result: The Treaty of Paris in 1763 ended the French and Indian
War and forced France to relinquish to Great Britain all her lands extending westward to the Mississippi River.
31. 1774 - First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress assembled in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
55 representatives from all the colonies except Georgia
The motto of the colonies was “No taxation without representation.”
32. Shock in Lexiton
33. the significance of Independence War: The American revolution was an event of great historic importance:
It gave the colonies their right to national independence and assured US capitalism of a free development.
The direct social change brought about by the Revolution was the emancipation of slaves who fought against the British.
It was the first large-scale revolutionary movement of the colonial people against national oppression for political and economic emancipation. Its victory greatly encouraged the people in the Latin American colonies ruled by the Spanish and other colonies in the world.
33. The Second Continental Congress 1775
In May, 1775, the Second Continental Congress was held with representatives from all 13 colonies, which lasted throughout the whole war.
34. Civil War
i: The Background of Civil War:
①The Territorial Expansion
②The Economic Expansion
③Economic Antagonism between the North and the South
④Disputes over Slavery
ii:6 Steps of the Territorial Expansions：
①the Treaty of Paris
②The Louisiana Purchase
③occupied Florida
④Mexican-US War (1846-1848)
⑤Oregon Region from England
⑥The US purchased Alaska and Aleutian Islands from Czarist Russia (沙俄) in 1867.
iii. Method: purchasing, war and invasion
iv. Result: By the mid-19th century, the size of the US was 10 times larger than the total area of the original thirteen states. By the late 19th century, the United States had finished its territorial expansion in the Continent.
v. Influence: the land expansion brought huge disaster to Native Americans. However, the west territory was developed during this period and the expansion promoted the development of American economy. Otherwise, the contradiction would be more incisive between the North and South.
35. the Civil War
1. The causes of the War:
In the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party, led by Abraham Lincoln, had campaigned against the expansion of slavery beyond the states in which it already existed.
The Origin of Slavery
Conflicts Arising from Slavery
2. Anti-Slavery Movement
3. Process of the Civil War:
The War broke out on April 12, 1861 and ended on April 9, 1865.
①the battle of Bull Run
The Union was beaten.
②the battle of Chancellorsville
the Union forces suffered a severe defeat.
③the battle of Gettysburg
The Union forces won a great victory at Gettysburg and this greatly encouraged the Union army.
④the battle of Mississippi
The Union forces won an almost uninterrupted series of victories.
4. Consequences of the War
Significance of Civil War:
?To preserve the Union
?To solve the agrarian problem
?To destroyed the feudal slavery-plantation system
?To develop American capitalism at a higher speed after the war
?To be called the Second American Bourgeois Revolution
?Not to emancipate the Negroes completely
35. Spanish America War
Result: occupied the colony of Spain
Cuba belong to US
Significance: new stage
Modern
36. Roosevelt New Deal
Destroy agriculture
Launch public
37. The definition of Ivy League
8 private universities
38. Which is the capital city of Canada?
Ottawa
39. Which is the biggest city of Canada?
Toronto
40. How many provinces in Canada?
10 and 3 territories
①Yukon Territory
②Northwest Territory
③Nunavut
④British Columbia
⑤Alberta
⑥Saskatchewan
⑦Manitoba
⑧Ontario
⑨Quebec
⑩New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland
41. How many parts in Canada? The structure of Aboriginal people.
First Nations ≠Canada’s Aboriginal peoples
Canada’s Aboriginal peoples: First Nations .Métis. Inuit
42. The capital city of Australia?
Canberra
43. The largest city in Australia
44. Describe the location of Australia
45. How many parts in Australia and their capital city.
①Western Australia Perth
②Northern Territory Darwin
③South Australia Adelaide
④Queensland Brisbane
⑤New South Wales Sydney
⑥Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Canberra
⑦Victoria Melbourne
⑧Tasmania Hobart
46. National bird in Australia
Emus
47. National bird in New Zealand.
Kiwi
48. The name of two main islands and the capital city of them
South Island & north Island
49. The largest city in the whole country, in the north island
50. National flag.
Union Jack & South Cross.
51. The native people in the New Zealand.
Maries
英美概况美国部分整理
America The Founding of Colonies殖民地的建立 First Inhabitants：American Indians Discovery of the New World： 1492 Christopher Columbus →the discoverer of America (Italian)Spanish Queen’ s support 1501-2 Amerigo Vespucci →the new land was name after him as America. reached the mouth of Amazon River America—the New World Europe—the Old World 13 colonies： New England Colonies: Mid Atlantic Colonies: Southern Colonies: Massachusetts →（2nd colony，1620）New York Maryland New Hampshire Pennsylvania Virginia →（1st colony，1607）Rhode Island Delaware North Carolina Connecticut South Carolina Georgia →（the last colony，1733）New England Region（6个）: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont 建立原因： Virginia, 1607 Virginia Company For foreign expansion as a way of easing religious dispute and economic distress in England 105 men (no women) Jamestown in honor of the king Massachusetts In 1620 102 Puritans (“Pilgrim Fathers”), in Mayflower, from Plymouth in England to America First in Plymouth (today’s Massachusetts); and then Boston Seek religious freedom Mayflower Compact <五月花号公约>：self-government Hardships when arrived the help of the Indians Thanksgiving Day to thank the Indians and the God for protection The next three colonies Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire Reasons: 1. religious disputes and struggles in Massachusetts intensified 2. more immigrants
美国文化期末考试整理
BUILDING BLOCK 4 ——Control 1.What is destiny? Destiny is what you make of your life. 2. 3.What is destiny? Interna Control Destiny is what decides your life. What is destiny? Internal External Definition: Control is inside the individual. There are very few certainties in life, few circumstances which cannot be changed. There are no limits on what you can do or become, so long as you believe it and try hard. Your success is your own achievement. You are responsible for what happens to you. Life is about what you do. Definition: Control is outside the individual. Some things in life are predetermined, built into the nature of things. There are limits beyond which one cannot go and certain givens that cannot be changed and must be accepted. Your success is a combination of your effort and your good fortune (good luck). Life is about what happens to you. External Control
《最新英美概况》练习参考答案(美国部分)
《最新英美概况》 练习参考答案 （本答案不包括练习中的开放性习题、思考题和讨论题） ==================================================== PART TWO The United States Chapter Eight The Land P. 209—210 I Fill in the blanks with proper words or expressions. 1. the Star-Spangled Banner, Defense of Fort McHenry, 181 2. 2. the Stars and the Stripes, Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner. 3. The White House, The Capitol, The Pentagon. 4. June, 14th, June 14th. 5. the Potomac, no state, the Federal government. 6. 36, 36 states. 7. Amerigo Vespucci, American War of Independence. 8. Pierre L’Enfant, light, service. II Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. 1. C 2. D 3. C 4. A B C D 5. C D III Decide which of the following statements is TRUE: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T IV Answer the following questions. 1. (1) At first the Continent was named as “America” after explorer Amerigo Vespucci. (2) During the American War of Independence, the former British colonies first used “the thirteen united States of America” in the Declaration of Independence. (3) The official name of America was adopted on November 15, 1777, when the Second Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation. 2. The 50 stars represent the 50 States, while the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies. White indicates purity and innocence; red indicates valour and bravery, and blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance and justice; it is also a symbol of respect to God. 3. The stars and strips have different meanings. Each star represents each state in America, while strips represent the original thirteen colonies before the independence of America.
英美概况期末考试名词解释整理
The industrial revolution refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize. The industrial revolution A period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, production, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain. The Industrial Revolution, was a period of unprecedented technological, economic and social change that completely transformed British culture from a largely rural, static society with limited production and division of labour into the world's first modern industrial society. the Black Death It was the deadly bubonic plague who spread through Europe in the 14th century. It swept through England without warning and any cure, and sparing no victims. It killed between half and one-third of the population of England. Thus, much land was left untended and labor was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences. The Black Death----It was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. It is widely thought to have been an outbreak of bubonic plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestisis and have started in Central Asia. It came without warning, and without any cue.The Black Death is estimated to have killed30% to 60% of Europe's population and had profound effects on the course of European history. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences. the Progressive Movement The Progressive Movement is a movement demanding government regulation of the economy and social conditions. It spread quickly with the support of large numbers of people across the country. It was not an organized campaign with clearly defined goals.(Rather, it was a number of diverse efforts at political, social, and economic reforms. In spite of limitations of the movement, it brought about changes and improvement in many fields.) Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. Britannia already had cultural and economic links with Continental Europe, but the invaders introduced new developments in agriculture, urbanisation, industry and architecture, leaving a legacy that is still apparent today. The first Romans to campaign extensively in Britain were
英美概况美国部分复习.docx
Melting Pot: Immigrants from different regions and cultures came to live in the United States, their old ways of life melt away and they became part of the American culture? WASPs: WASPS are the mainstream Americans, referring to the white Anglo-Saxon Protestants The Hispanics: The Hispanics are Spanish-speaking people from Latin America, which was once dominated by the Spanish Empire?American Indians: The Indian peoples are known as the first Americans. When Columbus landed in the New World in 1492, he thought he had reached India and called the natives Indians? Separation of powers: Under the federalist system, the federal and the state governments have separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitutio n. ^Winner-take-air5principle: The party that wins most votes (simple majority) in a state wins all the electoral votes for the state and the defeated party gets none? Federalism: Federalism in the United States is the evolving relationship between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United States? Since the founding of the country, and particularly with the end of the American Civil War, power shifted away from the states and towards the national government. Thanksgiving Day: It's on the fourth Thursday of Novembe匚It is a typical
美国社会与文化笔记归纳
American Family 1.The middle-aged people and elderly people generally live with their married children in America(F) 2.The nuclear family is the fundamental family pattern in the United States now(T) 3.In the post-civil war period,the African American family in the South was not only more nuclear,but also more male dominated(T) 4.In America,The pre-industrial family is a kind of Democratic family(F) 5.Mother and Father equally have the final say on family matters in most modern American families(T) 6.Upper-class families don’t aspire to be upwardly mobile because they are always there(T) 7.What does a nuclear family consist of (B) A.parents and family kin or other members of the community B.it consists of parents and their dependent or minor children only C.it consists of two parents and their children 8.Who takes care of the dependent children in a one-parent family in America?(C) A.The grandparents B.The government C.mother and father 9.Many American children must develop self-dependent to adjust themselves to (C) A.their parent’s unhappy marriage B.the new lifestyle of American family C.dramatic social and economic change in new century 10.Which of the following is not the effects of the Women’s Liberation movement in the 1960’s(B) A.women should have the same social and economic rights and priviledges as men B.women should go out to start their own business instead of staying at home to take care of their children C.women should obtained many political and legal rights previously open to men 11.Which of the following statements is not ture?(C) A.In America,individuals freely contracted marriage based on love in modern family pattern B.In 19th century,children were largely used as labor force, making children earn a living was seen not onl y as economically necessary but also morally sound C.In African American family,the slave can choose their husbands and wives by themselves American Education 1 The expenditure in American public schools is guided or decided by (D) A.Teachers B. Students C. headmasters D. boards of education 2 In the US school systems, which of the follow decision is true?(C) A.Elementary school, grammar school B.Elementary school, junior high school C.Elementary school, secondary school D.unior high school, senior high school 3 Three of the following universities have large endowments from wealthy benefactors . which is the exception?(B) A.Harvard university B.The state university of New Y ork C.Y ale university D.Princeton university 4 Both public and private universities depend on the following sources of income except(A) A.Investment B. student tuition C endowments D government funding 5 How many percent of American students go to public schools? (A) 85% B. 65% C 50% D 25% 6 American middle school system is consist if middle school and high school, the high school is divided into junior high scho ol and senior high school. (T) 7 The basic classes of middle school are math, English, PE, history, and health (T) 8 Children start school when they are six years old, in some states they must stay in school until they are fifteen.(F) 9.Parent do not have to pay for education of the public school, because the schools receive many from the government(T) 10. It’s false that most people stereotype the American middle school is easy to pass.(T) American labour 1.From what we know of the original African families from which many black Americans came.(T) 2.The Japanese worked hard for low pay and without complaining.(T) 3.In the nineteenth century in Mexican American families Husbands raised cattle and wives tended the housework!(T) 4.It was not until in the 1850s that working men's societies made a comeback.(T) Reason: Before 1860, union members never exceeded 1% of total labor force. From then on , labors has risen up 5.In the United States, the balance of power is different from other advanced industrial nations. It's true?(T) Reason: in the US, the power is clearly in favor of the employers. So, most of them l ook after business interests first, welfare of labor. 6.The AFL-CIO is especially connected with global trade issue.(T) 7.National Labor Relations Board isn't an independent federal agency.(F) 8.What did the workers want to gain in the labor movement? A: material status and social status 9.Which law became the first law to prohibit racial discrimination?(B) A. Taft-Hartley Act B. Fair Employment Act C. National Labor or Relations Act 10.Which one is not American national trade union organizations?(D) A. AFL-CIO B. IWW (Industrial Workers of the World C. Ctw (Change to Win Federation) D. ILD (International Labor Organization) American values and characteristics Question: true or false for American values and characteristics 1 In 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation to ablish the slavery。（T） 2 Abraham Lincoln was the 15th president of the United States.(F)
美国-国家概况、风土人情
美国概况及风土人情 首先要想做好美国项目就要了解目的国家的历史，政治经济，文化背景，风土人情等。相对于中国具有上下5000年的古老历史文明，美国作为一个新兴的资本主义国家，拥有的历史并不算漫长。 美国历史 最早可以追溯到15世纪左右，那时的美国本土居住着大量的土著印第安人。并没有被近现代文明社会所发现，直至意大利人航海家哥伦布发现了北美洲大陆，在1492-1502，十年间，哥伦布在西班牙的资助下四次横渡大西洋，达到美洲大陆。可以说；是哥伦布把欧洲的现代文明带到了美洲大陆。自从哥伦布发现了现代文明后， 在1776年7月 4日，反对英国殖民者的军队在费城召开了第二次大陆会议，组成“大陆军”，由乔治。华盛顿任总司令，并通过了《独立宣言》，那么这一天就被成为美国历史上最著名的“独立日” 1783年9月3日，独立战争结束。美国成为美洲首个独立国家。” 1787年制定联邦宪法。 1788年乔治。华盛顿当选为第一任总统。
美国地图： 美国位于北美洲中部：东濒大西洋，西滨太平洋，北靠加拿大，南接墨西哥及墨西哥湾。除美国简称USA,US，是由50个州和华盛顿哥伦比亚特区组成的联邦共和立宪制国家。 面积与人口： 美国国土面积世界第四；第一俄罗斯，第二加拿大，第三中国，大约为962.9万平方公里陆地面积915万平方公里，内陆水域面积为20万平方公里，五大湖中美国主权部分约为17万平方公里。河口，港湾，内海等沿海水域面积约10万平方公里。 美国人口约3.1 亿人，数量为世界第三。第一是中国，第二是印度，以白人为主，但有大量的移民人口。 主要城市 华盛顿：纽约所担任的职能仅限于经济范围内，而美国的首都华盛顿是纯粹的政治中心。区别于中国的首都北京所具有的政治经济文化中心的职能所不同的，美国的很多城市都具有单一的职能性。举例来讲美国的首都华盛顿只是政治中心，全程华盛顿D.C。最著名的景点就是美国的国会大厦，白宫，以及白宫正对面的华盛顿纪念碑。 美国的纽约不仅具有金融中心这一特点，同时他也是灾难的中心。他的出名也许会因为股市的反弹一夜暴富，也许会因为911的撞击事件而失去生命。 纽约市The city of New York 金融，文化，艺术的中心 纽约市是美国最大及人口最多的城市，也是全世界最大的都会区之一。 纽约在商业和金融的方面发挥巨大的影响力。该市有曼哈顿区，皇后区，布鲁克林区，布朗克斯区，斯塔腾岛五个区。 纽约市是美国第一大港，同时也是世界第四大都会区，仅次于东京，首尔，墨西哥城。 历史事件：2001年9月11日，911事件，恐怖分子劫持四架飞机，两架分别撞向两座世界贸易中心，一架撞向五角大楼，造成3000人死亡。 洛杉矶City of Los Angeles 洛杉矶是美国第二大城市，仅次于纽约，拥有巨大影响力的国际化大都市。 洛杉矶人口是加州最多的，超过400万人口，仅次于纽约。 大学有；加州理工学院，加州大学洛杉矶分校，南加州大学，洛杉矶加利福尼亚州立大学 旧金山 San Francisco
英美概况考试试题集
英语专业考研英美概况自测题（一） British Survey Test Part I Geography 1. The total area of the U.K. is _____. A. 211,440 B. 244,110 C. 241,410 D. 242,534 2. England occupies the _____ portion of the U.K. A. northern B. eastern C. southern 3. The most important part of the U.K. in wealth is _____. A. Northern Ireland B. England C. Scotland 4. _____ is on the western prominence between the Bristol Channel and the Dee estuary. A. Wales B. Scotland C. England 5. Wales was effectively united with England in the _____ century. A. 14th B. 15th C. 16th 6. By the Act of Union of _____ Scotland and the kingdom of England and Wales were constitutionally joined as the Kingdom of Britain. A. 1707 B. 1921 C. 1801 7. Physiographically Britain may be divided into _____ provinces. A. 13 B. 12 C. 14 8. Mt. Ben Nevis stands in _____. A. the Scottish Highlands B. Wales C. England 9. The main rivers parting in Britain runs from _____. A. north to south B. south to north C. east to west 10. Cheviot hills lie along the border between _____ and England. A. Scotland B. Wales C. Vale of Eden 11. The longest river in Britain is _____. A. Severn B. Clyde C. Bann 12. London is situated on the River of _____. A. Parret B. Thames C. Spey 13. Edinburgh is the capital of _____. A. England B. Scotland C. Wales 14. The rivers flowing into the _____ are mainly short. A. North Sea B. English Channel C. Dee estuary 15. Mt. Snowdon stands in _____. A. Scotland B. Wales C. England 16. The source of the important River Thames is in the _____. A. Cotswolds B. Oxford Clay C. Pennines 17. About _____ of the water requirements are obtained from underground sources. A. 50% B. 38% C. 42% 18. Gaelic is mainly spoken in _____. A. Scotland B. England C. Northern Ireland 19. The Bank of England was nationalized in _____. A. 1964 B. 1946 C. 1694
英美概况美国部分
Lecture one: Geography and People Location : Situated in the central part of North America with Canada on the north ,Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico on the south ,the United States is on the east coast of Pacific and west coast of Atlantic. Territorial area: 9.5million square kilometers 50states and seat of government is Washington D.C Largest state---Alaska Largest on the continent---Texas Smallest-----Rhode Island(罗德岛州) Newest---Hawaii Three geographical divisions（三大地形区）: Western ,central and eastern part . Land forms and region: Eastern part: Highlands formed by Appalachian range Western part: High plateaus and mountains(Rockies are called as the back bone of the continent). Great central plain: A large plain between the eastern Appalachian and western Rockies Main geographical regions: New England (6,northeast, longest history featured with mountains ,valleys and rivers ,and cities and towns with historic sites ,top-ranking universities ) The Mid-Atlantic States The West (11,a wealth of forests and stream notable cities, high-tech industry predominant agricultural yielding,14% of GDP ) The Mid-West The South (13,plenty of rainfall and mild climate are favorable for agriculture, fast growing industry and population recent years, great size with few large cities The Southwest Hawaii: Tourism is the largest source of income Tropical climate
北京理工大学美国社会与文化期末参考
美国社会与文化期末复习参考 1.How has Protestantism shaped basic American values? 2.What is the essence of the Protestant heritage? 3.What is the protestant heritage? Protestantism gives American people the value of self-improvement, the belief of gaining material success through hard work and self-discipline,and the idea of volunteerism and humanitarianism. 4.What are the three branches of the federal government and their responsibilities? 5.What are the three branches of the U.S. Government? What are the responsibilities of each branch? Congress is the legislativebranch and responsible for making laws.The president heads on the executive branch and carrying out the laws. The Supreme Court and lower national courts make up the judicial branch, which interpret the laws. 6.What is the Electoral College? How does it work? It is a system for indirectly electing the president. The winner of the highest number of each state’s popular votes gets all of that state’s electoral votes. A person getting the highest number of electoral votes will become president. 7.Why are Americans suspicious of a strong government? Because they think government is the natural enemy of individual freedom. 8.Why did the American Constitution adopt the policy of “separation of church and state”? Because the government was forbidden to establish a national church, in order that no denomination was to be favored over the others. 9.What are the two major political parties in the United States? What is the main difference in their beliefs? Republican Party believe in free enterprise system which favor little or no government regulation. Democratic Party believe in government regulatedbusinessesto protect consumers and workers. 10.What are interest groups? What do interest groups do? They are some groups of Americans with similar interests and often called lobbying groups. They demand new or protect existing government programs, regulationsand benefits for their members’ interests. 11.What are the three values that are traditionally associated with the frontier heritage? They are individualism, self-relianceand equality of opportunity. 12.How do you understand the saying “What’s above the ground is more important than what is beneath the ground?”