Hunter For Congress

House Of Representatives

It is an honor to serve as your voice in the House of Representatives. The decisions made in Washington, D.C. impact our lives every day. As your representative, I fight
for our district, our values and our nation.

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Duncan Hunter for Congress

Real Economic Growth

Real Economic Growth that comes from a vibrant private sector. Fight the Obama/Pelosi takeover of every industry in the United States. Implement reform that will incentivize hard working Americans and entrepreneurs to create jobs.

Tax cuts and fiscal responsibility

Tax cuts and fiscal responsibility are the keys to economic recovery and job growth. The American people are overtaxed and the government spends too much.

Energy independence

The only way to free ourselves from terrorist despots who negotiate international policy using oil prices is to keep working on alternative energy while at the same time following an “all of the above” approach.

Important Pages

Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Principles

Individual Liberty

Individual liberty and personal responsibility are the cornerstones of our great nation. The federal government’s role should be limited to protecting and defending our God given freedoms.

strong national security

Maintain a strong national security policy that funds the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps at appropriate levels and doesn’t cut defense spending during wartime for the first time in American history.

Border Security

Border Security that includes a COMPLETELY secure southern and northern border. Border security is national security. NO AMNESTY for those here illegally.

California’s 50th Congressional District

About Duncan Hunter

Duncan D. Hunter currently represents California’s 50th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, consisting mainly of East San Diego County. With the latest redrawing of state-wide Congressional Districts, Duncan is now a candidate for the 50thCongressional District, which holds parts of East County, North County and the city of Temecula in Riverside County.

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The US Political System – Guide for Immigrants

May 6, 2023December 6, 2022

The US political system is not complex and can be easily understood by immigrants worldwide. Like any other country, it is divided into different sectors, each taking care of different duties. Although it might be a bit intimidating in the beginning, it is important to understand thoroughly to have a better knowledge of the country you’re moving into!

The constitution depicts the entire structure of the US political system. It is divided into the following:

The US Political System
The Three Branches of Government
The Federalist System
US Elections

The US government and the congress are like a Francophone transplant which the 18th-century philosopher inspires. The advocation of power is divided into three different branches:

Executive
Legislative
Judicial

This division of power is done to divide responsibilities among groups to maintain checks and balances. Each of these branches is discussed in detail in the following article.

The Executive branch

This branch is run entirely by the President, elected by the electoral college. The President is considered the first citizen and the head of the state who resides and governs from the White House. The present is also the commander in chief of the US armed forces, which primarily passes all the laws by the legislative branch. To help in the further division of power, they are divided into 15 cabinet ministers appointed to advise the President on different matters. It is passed over to the Vice President if the President is unavailable to exercise their duties.

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch has two primary functions:

To curate the laws governing the country
To collect funds for running the government

To consider a bill as a law, each branch member has to vote in favor of the decision. After that, it can either be vetoed or divided to be passed as a bill, depending on the number of votes. It is further divided into two branches to execute the tasks effectively, known as the bicameral legislature. Finally, the people vote for the members to exercise their duties effectively. The House of Representatives also has six non-voting members – Puerto Rican, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, The US Virgin Islands, The District of Columbia, and Guam.

The Senate is also a part of the legislative branch, comprising 100 senators in the upper chamber. Every senator holds the office for six years to exercise their duties.

Judicial branch

This branch comprises the supreme court with 13 circuit courts and 94 district courts. The two primary powers of the branch include:

Interpreting the law to specific cases
Determining whether a particular law abides by the US Constitution

Whatever the judicial branch takes decisions, the entire country should abide by the decision.

American Political Parties

April 1, 2023December 6, 2022

The United States of America has a two-party system with two major parties. These two major political parties are the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Other than these two, other minor parties in the U.S. are called “third parties,” such as Libertarians, Constitution Party, The Green Party, and Natural Law Party.

In the U.S. elections, parties don’t see the significant votes but the plurality of votes, which is a higher percentage of votes than the other parties. Hence, one of the two major political parties seems to win the elections every year as it gets the most plural votes. Many people, towards the third parties, tend to vote for any of the two major parties to be among the candidates who voted for the winning party. Therefore, either the Democratic party or the Republican Party wins in every election leaving behind the third parties. It is because these two major political parties have their agendas closer to the general public.

The Republican Party

The logo of the Republican Party is the Elephant. This party derived its name in 1792 from supporters of Thomas Jefferson, who supported the decentralized government. The Republican Party was first called as Grand Old Party (GOP). During the 19th century, this party stood against the extension of slavery and, ultimately, abolished slavery. Therefore, the main agenda of the Republican Party is family and individual freedom. It is “pro-life” and hence opposes the right to abortion and believes in unborn fetuses’ right to live.

The first President of the Republican Party was Abraham Lincoln, who won 18 Northern States with 40 percent of the popular vote. With Abraham Lincoln winning the election, seven Southern States quit the Union, due to which the country dropped into American Civil War. However, the Republicans safeguard the right to hold arms as articulated in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to this day.

The Democratic Party

The logo of the Democratic Party is a Donkey. It served as the country’s first major opposition party in 1796, with John Adams winning the election. The critical agenda of this party is the social responsibility that leans towards the left wing leading to progressive and ideological values. Democrats believe that a powerful government will ensure a strong society.

The Democratic Party funds healthcare facilities and social services for all U.S. citizens. It also supports the right to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to equal treatment under the law, hence believing in the separation of church and state as stated in the U.S. constitution.

Elections

Presidential elections take place in the United States every four years:

The elections occur, in which presidential candidates for the two parties are elected.
When the candidates for each party are officially selected, the actual presidential election begins. After that, the election campaign begins for the two parties.
The elected person will be sworn in as the President of the United States of America at an inauguration ceremony held in Washington, D.C.

The current President of the U.S.A. is the member of the Democratic Party, Joe Biden, serving as the 46th President from 20th January 2021.

Political Parties of the United States

March 4, 2023December 6, 2022

The US is always in the news for its political drama and the power they portray to the world. The reason behind this is the well-maintained political system which helps maintain decorum in the nation. The politics of the United States is divided into two major parties – the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Although there are other parties during elections, their alliances often fall loose and ultimately fail to overcome the power of the republicans and the Democrats.

The republic party rose to power in the 1850s, and since then, only a tiny portion of other political parties have risen to power. America’s two-party system is one of the primary reasons for the failure of the risers of smaller parties in the nation.

Every part of the United States has conservative and liberal wings, and sometimes both of them have ideologies in common. During elections, the members of the democratic and republican parties are placed on the election ballot directly, while the smaller parties ought to fill in registrations and other formalities to enter the ballot.

Responsibilities of political parties

One of the primary aims of forming political parties is to cater to the needs of the people and fulfill all their duties mentioned in the constitution. Here are some of the responsibilities they ought to follow:

National security

The Homeland security department is responsible for protecting the United States against terrorist attacks and has been in power for over 50 years. The responsibilities of this department are divided into four directories:

Border and transport security
Emergency Preparedness
Information analysis and infrastructure protection
Science and technology

Domestic law enforcement

Although traditionally, the concept of law enforcement and its delivery is done by police officials, in the 20th century, the number of federal law enforcement officers began to rise. Most of the work is done by police officials, sheriffs, and constables in rural areas. The government also has law enforcement agencies and other patrol systems to ensure people follow the domestic laws of the nation.

Health and welfare

Despite the country’s enormous wealth, it still has many regions where people suffer from extreme poverty. Many programs like Medicare and Social Security developed by the government have significantly helped reduce poverty and provided a roof over the head and daily bread for people in need. The state also helps in assisting all the people in need, irrespective of the political party in power.

Housing

Most of the housing in the United States is in the form of detached family homes, which are taken care of by the political bodies in power. Most of the houses are made of wood, shingles, wiener, etc., which the government members decide to ensure the safety of the people living in them.

United States American Congress

February 6, 2023December 6, 2022

Congress of the United States was established under the constitution of 1789. The national parliament in the U.S. consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The two chambers of Congress are separate, but mostly, they have an equal role in enacting legislation. Congress must meet at least once a year to agree on the date for adjourning and convening. The House and the Senate vote on the date for adjournment.

Congress has committee system to consider the various business items. Each House of Congress has many permanent standing committees and select special and temporary committees. In addition, the two chambers of Congress form joint committees to have a common interest. Therefore, a bill should receive the most votes in both chambers for legislation to be passed in the United States.

The Senate

You must be at least 30 years old to be a member of the Senate and should be a citizen of the U.S. for a minimum of 9 years. Elected Senators, who are about 100 in number, serve a term of six years. Elections in the Senate are held every two years, and only 1/3 of them come forward for re-election each time. Hence, every state has two elections in six years for the Senate.

Being elected as a Senator in the Presidential election is a long process. Most of the candidates represent any of the two major parties. In the primary election, it becomes evident that either a member of Republican or Democrat will have a strong emphasis on some states to be the winner.

House of Representatives

The candidate must be at least 25 years old to run the office. They should have U.S. citizenship for a minimum of 7 years. House of Representatives consists of 435 members, out of which each state has a certain number of representatives based on the population. Unlike the Senate candidates, the House of Representatives members come forward for re-election each time. They serve the term only for two years. Additionally, the candidate who received the maximum votes in the district will get to represent that district in the House.

Power of Congress

The ability of Congress to enact law is the road to sanction its other actions. The legal authority is delegated to the President and the agencies that are legally responsible for their actions. Actions performed by a delegated authority will be reviewed by Congress, which approves specific plans before they go into effect. Congress also has the right to terminate legislation by the Senate and House of Representatives joint action.

Congress has the power to levy and collect taxes, allowing the authority in fiscal matters. Although the President has the initial responsibility, the power to determine and estimate for the next fiscal year is given to Congress. Several departmental bills are passed during the first six months of a session.

The Presidential Election in the U.S.

January 4, 2023December 6, 2022

Presidential elections take place every four years in the United States. The presidential nominee will mostly be from the two major parties, Republican and Democratic. A seven-month-long election campaign will begin when the two parties have elected their president and vice president candidates. Along with the candidates from the major parties, a few candidates from minor parties are also on the ballot. The election is held on the first Tuesday of November.

To contest a Presidential election in the U.S., one needs to match with three representatives:

Be 35 years of age or old
Born citizen of the U.S.
Lived in the states for more than 14 years

Out of all these, if the President is elected, they can only serve the term for two years. They cannot be elected thrice.

The U.S. is divided into 50 states, and each state has a certain number of electoral votes decided by the population. 538 votes are split between these 50 states, and the presidential candidate who gets the most electoral votes wins the election. A candidate can win the election by getting the majority of votes compared to another candidate.

Winner has it

With this kind of electoral system, a candidate may win the most popular vote but not become the President. Despite getting more popular votes, there are chances for the opponent to become the President. It has already happened five times in history.

The last it happened was in the 2016 election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Although Clinton won the popular vote with 48% of all the votes while Trump got 45,9%, Clinton was assigned only 232 electoral votes. Trump was assigned 306 electoral votes and was elected as the President.

What if nobody gets the majority of votes?

If no candidate receives the majority of votes, voting continues in the second round. For both Democrats and Republicans, superdelegates can participate in the vote. They will discuss and vote for a specific candidate. However, by this principle, it is convinced that the ultimate vote will be from the convention itself, not the people. This voting process keeps repeating until one candidate gets the majority of votes and is officially appointed as the President.

After the election day

Congress houses come together on January 6th to count the electoral votes. Then, they will declare the President and Vice President for the term. If the candidates get the same number of votes, the House elects the President, and the Senate elects Vice President.

On January 20th, the president-elect will officially be sworn in as President of the United States of America at an inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C. The President is then sent to the White House, the President’s official residence. They can live in it during the presidential term.

Structure of the US Congress

December 6, 2022December 6, 2022

Congress is the governing body of the United States and has been in power for decades. The body is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate. Most of the work by Congress is divided between these two bodies by forming a separate committee, each taking care of one another. To help with these duties, the Congress also has the Library of Congress and the Government Accountability Office, which helps the members provide the necessary information and assist them in every aspect of their duty. Another vast set of members is also appointed to help in diverse operations, especially in need of emergencies.

The different committees formed by the US congress in mentioned below:

Specializations

This committee allows congress members to study subjects intensively and research the topic. One particular member can only hold expertise in some of the whereabouts. Hence the specialization committee is created to assign investigations to different groups. After collecting the necessary data, the group advises Congress to make better foreign, financial and other decisions.

Power

The different committees created furthermore are responsible for writing different subjects of the legislation. The house of Representatives is responsible for discharging all the petition processes and is also responsible for the implementation of committee action. His committees and other sub-committees gather the necessary information and evaluate the alternatives to find viable solutions to problems.

Officer

The offer is also called the speaker. At the start of the two-year tenure, an officer or a speaker is appointed who is not just responsible for conducting party meetings but also for making significant decisions in the party.

Library

The congress library, or the Library of Congress, was established in 1800 and primarily has law books and was burned down in a British War in 1812. However, Congress purchased the library and established the books to help people on the committee for reference and to make critical legal decisions. The congress library is considered the largest in the world which has over 150 million copies to help in excellent decision-making.

Research

The congressional research service is created for the senators and other representatives for them to carry out their official duties. One of the main objectives of this body is to provide ideas to run and curate the legislation, analyze bills and facilitate other public hearings. It is also one of the essential bodies to help resolve any disagreements inside the apartment.

Budgeting

This is a federal agency that helps in making economic decisions by collecting and providing data. This body is created to help in revenue estimations and to manage the inflow of taxes and the country’s overall expenditure.

Lobbying

Lobby groups are created to help Congress seek some influence on the necessary decisions to be taken, which will also reflect not the client’s needs. Over 15,000 federal lobbyists in Washington are ready to set legislative goals and help them.

Top Ten Facts About Social Security in USA

November 3, 2022October 22, 2022

Social security is a federal program that provides security to Americans and ensures that their healthcare requirements are met effectively. However, there are certain eligibility requirements that need to be met in order to get social security benefits. Although social security is a well-known and successful program, many people don’t actually know many things about it. This article will give you the top ten facts about social security in America:

There is Some Room for Error

Unfortunately, many people in the past have failed to get the benefits that they deserve because of the errors made in their earnings records. However, did you know that you get a time period of three years, three months, and 15 days to fix the errors?

It Offers Scope for Choice

Many people often feel that they may have made a poor judgment in availing of the social security benefits at the wrong time. The social security program gives a time period of 12 months to citizens to reconsider their choice and apply for withdrawal of the application. However, whatever amount of money you’ve been paid until then, you will need to pay it back in full.

You Can Change Your Social Security Number

The federal program is well known for giving unique social security numbers to each citizen. It is highly unlikely that any citizen will ever share the same social security number with another citizen.

The federal program gives citizens a choice of changing their social security number as well. However, it needs to be done on a reasonable basis. A citizen is only allowed to make changes to their social security number if they have suffered from identity theft or domestic violence.

Children Can Avail of the Benefits of Social Security

Unfortunately, many people are unaware that children can also take advantage of social security. It is given to those who are under eighteen or, in case they are still in high school, until nineteen. They can be eligible for the benefits in case their parents have retired or become disabled and have passed away.

It’s Not Available for Newly Married Couples

If a couple has married recently and one of them passes away, then the surviving spouse will only be available for the survivor benefits if the couple has been married for a minimum of nine months. However, if one of them is in the police or military and dies while on duty, then the survivor spouse will be entitled to the benefits. This is also applicable in case the spouse dies in an accident.

To Sum Up

These are some of the interesting facts about social security in the US. It has played a vital role in protecting many Americans from difficult financial circumstances and in events of loss. Moreover, it has been incredibly helpful for vulnerable workers and Americans above the age of sixty-five.

A Brief History of American Politics

November 2, 2022

The History of American Politics is one of the least discussed topics compared to the country’s cultural and economic History.

Colonial Politics (1607-1776)

During this time, the Anglo-Saxons owned the local self-government and modified the system after the Normans in 1066. People got used to this colonial system, and they gained access to the following:

Manga Charta
Petition of right
Bill of rights

The British Colonists also occupied the coasts from Florida to Nova Scotia, when the government slowly started becoming a people’s representative. The English also established three forms of government – charter, proprietary, and the royals. As a result, the people had a say in the management of the government and the land they lived in. This led to educating the people about local politics and raised awareness among the masses.

Although the colonial governments were similar in structure, they differed in their organizations. They comprised the following:

A governor
A general assembly
The upper house
The lower house, elected by the people

Charter government

The charter was a part of the government that allowed representation of people in the government, giving them the authority to enjoy all the rights of the Englishmen. The demand for this representation was so popular that every colony had legislation governed and modeled by a parent country. It generally dealt with religious matters, denying citizenship, and the right of suffrage.

Royal Government

In this form of provincial or royal government, the government was appointed by the King and the members of the upper house of the legislature. The governor was a representative of the King and handled various matters of the state. Although in this form of governmental structure, the people had less say in matters, they were still subjected to the liberty of the citizens.

Names of parties during colonial times

The earliest of the colonial parties were on American soil. Parties were generally divided into the court party and the popular rights party.

The court party was given to those parties adhering to the royalty and favored all the decisions taken by the crown. In some colonies, it was also called the royalist party.

The popular rights party, on the other hand, were people contented with the colonial interests and aided in suppressing peoples’ will. In colonial times, the number of such party members was less due to the need for leaders to govern the state. In some regions, they were recognized as democrats; in others, they were called republicans, as they opposed royal decisions. The people who opposed this authority directly allied with Great Britain.

Key Takeaway

The colonial parties marked the rich political History of America, followed by the rule of many governments like revolutionary politics, Washington’s administration, Madison’s administration, Jackson’s administration, Lincon’s administration, Arthur’s administration, and so on.

American Political History: A Very Short Introduction

October 5, 2022October 22, 2022

American Political History: A Very Short Introduction is a famous book written by Donald T. Critchlow. He is well known for his ability for accurate analysis and for presenting a realistic picture or perspective over a wide range of topics.

Clear Analysis

This book is a clear analysis of American democracy and how it has changed over the years. He goes into the diverse nature of America and talks about the various problems that have long affected and been debated over in the country.

Solid Research

Critchlow brings his experience of his professorship at Arizona State University and solidifies the history of the country in the minds of the readers with his vast knowledge of history. The book has received many positive reviews for being well-researched and having clear language.

Brief Overview

If you want a brief overview of American politics without beating around the bush, this book will give you a clear account. It covers many Presidential and Congressional elections and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of every person that has come into power. You will also get a taste of the political atmosphere in those periods and get the big picture.

Bias-Free

Another major benefit that comes from reading this book is that you will receive a bias-free picture of the American political landscape. After all, books without the presence of strong political biases are becoming a rarity in this day and age.

Hence, this book can be a fresh breath of air. For instance, many people are often surprised to know that Republicans have been vocal about the evils of slavery and segregation in the old days. You will also get an insight into what the future of the country can possibly look like.

America’s Embrace of Ideas

The author also explores the federal nature of America and how it has been a ground where many ideas have sprung forth. You will come to see just what an important and impactful role each federal state has to play, although it is Washington that is always typically highlighted.

The Dark Side of American Politics

The author isn’t afraid to address the dark side of American politics either. You will come to understand what a devastating role corruption and scandals have had to play and how they’ve changed the course of American history in many ways.

To Sum Up

This book can surely challenge your views on the Democrats and Republicans, and it will help you understand what a long and interesting journey American politics has had. It is perfect for those people who have difficulty concentrating and going through heavy American history books with an overwhelming amount of information. It is a good read for young people as well.

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