TED ROGERS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

MANAGEMENT

GMS690 The North American Business Environment

 MODULE 4.3

Government/Politics
United States Government
The Constitution
• Written 1787, ratified 1788
• Charter of Government
• Affirms that the government of the
United States exists to serve its
citizens
• Created the branches of
government

Source: https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Government
Bill of Rights
• Is the first 10 amendments to the
Constitution
• Free Speech
• Bear Arms
• Protection of homes
• Unreasonable search and seizure
• Protection for people accused of
crimes
• Right to speedy trial and impartial
jury
• Right to a jury trial
• Cruel and unusual punishment
• Additional rights
• Federal government only has
powers delegated by the
constitution
Source: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights/what-does-it-
say#:~:text=The%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20is%20the%20first%2010%20Amendments%20to%20the%20Constitution.&text=It%20
guarantees%20civil%20rights%20and,the%20people%20or%20the%20States. Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
Additional Amendments 11-27
• Since 1795 there has been
17 additional constitutional
amendments
• 1992 was the last update
• Amendments require two-
thirds majority in both the
House of Representatives
and the Senate or by a
Constitutional convention
called by two-thirds of the
states

Source: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
Constitution Based Federal
Republic
• Federal indicates that it is both
national and state
governments
• It is based on a Constitution
which is the supreme law of
country
• Republic is a form of
government where people hold
the power through elected
representatives

Source: https://www.usconstitution.net/constfaq_q76.html
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
3 Branches of Government

• EXECUTIVE
• The President enforces the laws
that the legislative branch makes.
The President has Veto power.
• JUDICIAL
• The judicial branch includes the
Supreme Court and 9 Justices.
They interpret laws according to
the constitution
• LEGISLATIVE
• Congress makes laws and is
divided into 2 parts. The Senate
(100 – 2 from each state) and the
House of Representatives (435 –
determined by population)

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/ Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Government
Executive Branch
• Article II of the Constitution
• President is responsible for
the execution and
enforcement of the laws
created by congress
• Leads 15 executive
departments (cabinet)
• Serves a 4 year term

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-executive-branch/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
Legislative Branch
• Article I of the Constitution
• House of Representatives
• 435 Members
• Determined by
population
• 6 non voting members
representing DC, PR,
and 4 territories
• 2 year term

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-legislative-branch/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
Legislative Branch
• Article I of the Constitution
• Senate
• 100 Senators
• 2 per State
• 6 year term
• The senate confirms Presidential
appointees
• Bills must pass both senate and
house

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-legislative-branch/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
Judicial Branch
• Article III of the
Constitution
• Currently 9 Supreme
Court Justices (1869)
• Federal judges can only
be removed through
impeachment
• Sole power of interpreting
the law

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-judicial-branch/ Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Government
Separation of Powers
• Head of state and head of
government are the same
• President cannot be a member of
either house of congress
• Cannot introduce bills
• Elections are for fixed terms
• President 4 years
• Senate 6 years
• House 2 years
• Voting for President, House, and
Senate are separate

Source: https://lop.parl.ca/about/parliament/senatoreugeneforsey/book/chapter_4-e.html
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Government
Bill to Law

Source: https://www.usa.gov/how-laws-are-made
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 United States Government
Federal
Bonds Government

Treasury Bills Notes Bonds

Enterprise
Federal Muni/Rev
Agency FHA/SBA/GNMA
Fannie
Mae/Freddie Mac Local Gov.

City of
Level of Risk Detroit
2013

Source: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financing-the-government Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Government
Debt
8 years of Obama
the debt increased
from $10T to $18T
$8T increase
4 years of Trump the
debt increased from
$18T to $27T
$9T increase

Source: Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Government
Deficit
Since the year 2000,
the US has had a
budget deficit

Source: Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Government
Budget
2019
Revenues at $3.5T
Spending $4.4T
Deficit = $900B

Source: Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

 United States Politics
• Political
Spectrum
• Most are
moderates
• Slightly
right

Source: https://hragvartanian.com/2011/02/02/left-vs-right-us-political-spectrum/ Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
Primarily a two party system
• Republicans
• Democrats
Smaller parties exist
• Libertarian
• Constitution Party
• Green Party

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics
Republicans (GOP)
• 1856 John Fremont
• Conservative platform

Source: https://prod-static-ngop-pbl.s3.amazonaws.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL%5b1%5d-ben_1468872234.pdf Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics
Democrats
• 1820 Martin Van Buren
• Liberal platform

Source: http://s3.amazonaws.com/uploads.democrats.org/Downloads/2016_DNC_Platform.pdf Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics
The Electoral College
• Each state gets as many
members electors as it has
members of congress (House
and Senate)
• Candidate needs 270 electors
• Popular vote does not
determine the winner
• Change would require a
constitutional amendment

Source: https://www.usa.gov/election#:~:text=In%20the%20Electoral%20College%20system,(270)%20wins%20the%20election.
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
The Ballots
• Individual States are
responsible for elections
• Voters elect Federal, State,
and local officials

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/oct/15/us-election-ballots-listed Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics
1936 Election

Source: https://www.270towin.com/1936_Election/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
1972 Election

Source: https://www.270towin.com/1972_Election/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
1992 Election

Source: https://www.270towin.com/1992_Election/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
2008 Election

Source: https://www.270towin.com/2008_Election/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
2016 Election
• Electoral College
• 306 Trump
• 232 Clinton
• Popular Vote
• 65.8M Clinton
• 62.9M Trump
• Senate
• 52 Republicans
• 48 Democrats
• House
• 241 Republicans
• 194 Democrats

Source: https://www.cnn.com/election/2016/results
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
Donald Trump

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/2016-election-donald-trump-wins-white-house-upset-n679936 Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics
Protectionism/Nationalism
• Buy American Act (passed by US congress 1933)
• 2015 Jett Industries ordered to pay $500,000 fine
after it was found that the company had used non
U.S. components in a wastewater facility. This was
a federally funded project. Jett was required to
comply with the Buy American Act; It requires certain
components to be made in the US. Jett obtained a
steel bladder surge tank from France.
• US President Trump has “revitalized” the “Buy
American” mentality

Source: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43140.pdf
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
Donald Trump
• Protectionist/Isolationist Policies
• Eliminating Federal Regulations
• Repealing Affordable Care Act
• Buy American - Manufacturing
• Trade Deals
• USMCA
• China
• America First (MAGA)
• Impeached

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/2016-election-donald-trump-wins-white-house-upset-n679936 Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics 1,954 Miles

The Wall

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46824649
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
Turnover
• 91%

Source: https://www.brookings.edu/research/tracking-turnover-in-the-trump-administration/
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
ACQUITTED!!
United States Politics
2018 Mid-Term Election
• Senate
• 53 Republicans
• 47 Democrats
• House
• 199 Republicans
• 235 Democrats

Source: https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/results/house
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
2020 Election
• Electoral College
• 306 Biden
• 232 Trump
• Popular Vote
• 81.3M Biden
• 74.2M Trump
• Senate
• 50 Republicans
• 48 Democrats
• Georgia
• House
• 211 Republicans
• 222 Democrats

Source: https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/president
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
Joe Biden

Source: https://people.com/politics/biden-inauguration-will-likely-be-largely-remote-organizers-say/ Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

United States Politics
2020 State Governor
• Distribution
• 26 Republicans (Red)
• 24 Democrats (Blue)

Source: https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/governor
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
United States Politics
Lawsuits
• Over 60 lawsuits filed
• Election Fraud
• 60 losses
• 1 win

The Trump campaign and GOP’s only win struck down an

extended deadline the Pennsylvania secretary of state set for
voters to cure mail-in ballots that were missing proof of
identification, and likely only affected a small number of mail-
in ballots.

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

 United States Politics
Congress
• Right is US Senate
• Left is US House

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/my-day-photographing-capitol-attack Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz