THE JAMAICA ACTION PARTY
J A P
American Political System Con'td
The issue of term limits in both federal and state government is not universal and applies only to certain
positions. For example, the president is limited to serve no more than two terms while a senator or a
congressman have no limits on the number of terms that can be served. Each state set its own term limits with
regards to the various positions and as such they will vary from state to state for similar positions.
When a voter is enumerated, the voter can register as a member of the Democratic Party, Republican Party or
as an independent voter though they are free to vote for the party of their choice during an election. The
candidates of the parties are selected during what are called the primaries. All positions within the parties at the
state and federal level are open to all the members of the party. During the primary election, the persons
hoping to represent the various parties will compete to win the nomination of their party. The persons
registered as member of that party will vote and the candidate getting the most votes will represent the party in
the election. Persons can run as independent candidates if they meet the requirements to run. The election
cycle is two years consisting of The Presidential Election which is held every four years and midway between
the Presidential Election, Mid-term Elections are held. During the Presidential Election, the President, a third of
the senators and the entire house of representative are elected. At the state level elections are also held to fill
various positions depending on the state. Two year after the presidential election the mid-term elections are
held during which a third of the senate and the entire House of Representatives are elected. Elections are also
held at the state level to fill various positions. The positions, example governor or mayor, filled in each state
during the presidential or mid-term election will be dependent on the state. Local elections are also held in the
first and third year. All election are held on the first Tuesday in November.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCE WITH THE JAMAICAN SYSTEM
The system of government in the United States can be considered to be roughly similar to that which existed in
the West Indies during the late fifties and early nineteen sixties when a number of Caribbean countries were
grouped to form the West Indies Federation. The federal government of the US would be similar to that of the
federal government that was established to oversee the affairs of the West Indies Federation. The individual
states such as New York or Texas can be equated to individual countries such as Jamaica or Barbados. The
only difference is that most of the United States (forty eight states) is on the same land mass while the West
Indies consists of separate islands. The government in say New York would be equivalent to that in Jamaica.
The Governor of a state is directly elected and can be equated to our Prime Minister, the state senate to our
senate and the assembly members to our member of parliament. The local representatives consist of the mayor
and the council members as it is in Jamaica. The main difference is that the mayors in the US are directly
elected and does not run for a council seat. In the United States, councils are divided by cities while in Jamaica
it is done by parishes. The council in the US is more autonomous and can, for example, raise or lower sales
and property tax within the guidelines set by the state.
In the United States a lot of the seats are safe seats and in many cases the outcome of the election is
determined by what is known as swing seats as they have been won by both parties. The political climate is not
as divisive as it is in Jamaica and you will find that a republican mayor might endorse a democratic governor or
the other way around and also members from the opposing party are at times made a part of the government.
Unlike in Jamaica, the elected representatives are very much available to their constitunts and do not always
toe the party line, at times voting against bills or legislation which they consider not to be in the best interest of
their constituents regardless of which party proposes it. The constituents in the United States are also more
active and will lobby their representatives on how they would like them to vote on various issues.
There is a veto system by which the president or the governor can block the passage of any bill or legislation
which is not passed by more than two thirds of the senate. When a bill is approved by more than two thirds of
the members the veto power is said to be overridden.
Page 1 2
The issue of term limits in both federal and state government is not universal and applies only to certain
positions. For example, the president is limited to serve no more than two terms while a senator or a
congressman have no limits on the number of terms that can be served. Each state set its own term limits with
regards to the various positions and as such they will vary from state to state for similar positions.
When a voter is enumerated, the voter can register as a member of the Democratic Party, Republican Party or
as an independent voter though they are free to vote for the party of their choice during an election. The
candidates of the parties are selected during what are called the primaries. All positions within the parties at the
state and federal level are open to all the members of the party. During the primary election, the persons
hoping to represent the various parties will compete to win the nomination of their party. The persons
registered as member of that party will vote and the candidate getting the most votes will represent the party in
the election. Persons can run as independent candidates if they meet the requirements to run. The election
cycle is two years consisting of The Presidential Election which is held every four years and midway between
the Presidential Election, Mid-term Elections are held. During the Presidential Election, the President, a third of
the senators and the entire house of representative are elected. At the state level elections are also held to fill
various positions depending on the state. Two year after the presidential election the mid-term elections are
held during which a third of the senate and the entire House of Representatives are elected. Elections are also
held at the state level to fill various positions. The positions, example governor or mayor, filled in each state
during the presidential or mid-term election will be dependent on the state. Local elections are also held in the
first and third year. All election are held on the first Tuesday in November.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCE WITH THE JAMAICAN SYSTEM
The system of government in the United States can be considered to be roughly similar to that which existed in
the West Indies during the late fifties and early nineteen sixties when a number of Caribbean countries were
grouped to form the West Indies Federation. The federal government of the US would be similar to that of the
federal government that was established to oversee the affairs of the West Indies Federation. The individual
states such as New York or Texas can be equated to individual countries such as Jamaica or Barbados. The
only difference is that most of the United States (forty eight states) is on the same land mass while the West
Indies consists of separate islands. The government in say New York would be equivalent to that in Jamaica.
The Governor of a state is directly elected and can be equated to our Prime Minister, the state senate to our
senate and the assembly members to our member of parliament. The local representatives consist of the mayor
and the council members as it is in Jamaica. The main difference is that the mayors in the US are directly
elected and does not run for a council seat. In the United States, councils are divided by cities while in Jamaica
it is done by parishes. The council in the US is more autonomous and can, for example, raise or lower sales
and property tax within the guidelines set by the state.
In the United States a lot of the seats are safe seats and in many cases the outcome of the election is
determined by what is known as swing seats as they have been won by both parties. The political climate is not
as divisive as it is in Jamaica and you will find that a republican mayor might endorse a democratic governor or
the other way around and also members from the opposing party are at times made a part of the government.
Unlike in Jamaica, the elected representatives are very much available to their constitunts and do not always
toe the party line, at times voting against bills or legislation which they consider not to be in the best interest of
their constituents regardless of which party proposes it. The constituents in the United States are also more
active and will lobby their representatives on how they would like them to vote on various issues.
There is a veto system by which the president or the governor can block the passage of any bill or legislation
which is not passed by more than two thirds of the senate. When a bill is approved by more than two thirds of
the members the veto power is said to be overridden.
Page 1 2
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