The Constitution of the USA

Join Syd Matthews, a member of Craven u3a for this presentation on a topic we need to understand much better. This talk was given to our u3a via Zoom during lockdown and is well worth a repeat and is sure to generate a good deal of interest

The election of a US President is a process which reveals many of the ideas that preoccupied the founding fathers. By studying this we not only find out about the constitution but also something about the political culture of the USA.

The first part of the talk is all about the constitution. We often hear the expression pleading the 5th amendment or the right to bear arms. Here is your chance to learn why such phrases are referenced so often in film, TV and these days, almost every day in the news.

After a break for refreshments (pay in cash on the day £1.15 per cup and 55 pence for a small pack of biscuits) Syd looks at how the constitution impacts on the election process and its outcomes. So what is the role of the Vice President in the Senate? If the Vice President is said to be “a heartbeat” away from the President, what does this mean? Who is 3rd in line to the presidency etc.?