American Political Institutions
Faculty of Social Sciences
Charles University
May 4, 2017
Relative to one another, describe the organization and operation of each national
political institution — the Executive Branch (President), Congress (Senate and House of
Representatives), and the Supreme Court. One can argue that political parties are also
a prominent feature of the American political system even though they are not included
in the Constitution. Explain. What is the most important political institution in the U.S.
political system? Explain your choice in the context of the other institutions.
Please explain the factors that make the American political system such a complex one.
In doing so, do not neglect the role that the state governments play in the national
political process.
Analyze the presidential nomination process, explaining how it worked to produce
Hillary Clinton over Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democrats and Donald Trump over
the other 16 Republican candidates. The other stages of a presidential election are
national conventions and a general election. How do minor political parties fit in the
presidential selection process? Explain how the public funding of presidential elections
impacts the major and minor political party presidential candidates. Why did the system
appear rigged to Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump? Explain. Ground your
analysis in the context of the class reading and lectures rather than general
speculation.
Please do not neglect the video, “Super Chief,” in your examination of the
United States Supreme Court and its position in the American political system.