Political Parties

The parties then formally nominate the candidates at their national conventions. .
             Organizing the government is a major function of political parties. But how the parties do this depends on the government's established structure and on how the powers of government are divided. .
             Unitary and federal systems. In countries that have a unitary system of government, such as France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, the central government has most governmental powers, including control over local governments. In countries that have a federal system of government, such as Canada and the United States, the powers of government are divided between the central government and the state or provincial governments. The political parties in countries with a unitary system concentrate on gaining control of and organizing the central government. The parties are thus basically national in their activities and are so organized. The political parties in countries with a federal system try to gain power to organize both the central government and the state or provincial governments. The parties are thus both national and state in their activities and organization. .
             The presidential system. In the United States, the Constitution provides for the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president, therefore, is not a member of Congress, nor are the Cabinet members. The president is elected by the people through the Electoral College and may be of a different political party than the party that controls Congress. Often, the president is forced to rely on leaders from both parties to get programs passed. Under the presidential system, Congress may refuse to pass legislation the president wants. On the other hand, the president may veto (reject) legislation passed by Congress "and Congress seldom overrides a veto. .
             The president serves a four-year term. The president has to deal with a House of Representatives whose total membership is elected every two years and with a Senate in which a third of the members face election every two years.