Cours Magistral de Civilisation Américaine (cours de fac)

Résumé du document

Cours Magistral de Civilisation Américaine en anglais, cours de 19 pages



USA is the oldest surviving democracy in the world à longevity Republic = constitution government à democracy: direct or indirect representation Forefathers (= aïeux) didn't believe in perfectibility of mankind.(= être humain) à strong eco union. The federalist papers: to sign the constitution à group of Documents. oldest federal system, oldest republic, oldest constitution : 1787 : amendment.





I) First Lesson

II) American mindset

III) American minorities

IV) Business ethnic vocabulary

Extraits

[...] projection for median age in 2050 : 36,2 (and Europe : 52,7). - Population growth rate : 3rd largest nation for population (before China & India) and territory (after Russia & Canada). Age structure : - 0/14 : - 15/64 : - 65 + : Populous states : - Calif : 35 M (M=millions) - Texas : 22 M - NY State : 19 M of population concentrated in of the territory. Not many people live in the mountains and empty interior. [...]

[...] Chapter 11 (to file Chapter 11) protects a company from its creditors. = paid on what is owned. Bankruptcy (to file for) To restructure and emerge from bankruptcy. To settle claims A class action suit To liquidate your assets / to sue. To auction off remaining assets Insider trading White-collar crime. A web of complex financial reporting To mop up after corporate scandals = to clean up. To seek to recuperate) to recoup millions in alleged illegal proceeds. Shareholders = stakeholders (larger term) in stakeholders : employees, customers, shareholders, banks, suppliers). [...]

[...] France drag America to the war for not saying no. Habits : Cf brochure pages 74-75/78/83/85. First name much more common. More familiar. Privately founded Healthcare : your company pays or individuals pay. Small employees didn't have healthcare because too expensive. Companies pay a fee for each employee whereas individuals pay are premiums : monthly payment for insurance. Retired people (pensioners) : sometimes companies still pay for them. They represented in 1988, and in 2004 : Since 2001, premiums have grown up for Sometimes Federal Help for the oldest part of population : Medicare 65 years old) and for the poorest : Medicaid. [...]

[...] - Auditors reviewing the board's decisions. - Protection for whistleblowers. - Limitation on CEO bonuses and loans. (end of abusive payments to directors). Some common practices concerning CEOs : - : purchases or sales of insiders' products or services. - : loans to executives. - . SUITE Business ethics: scandals steps taken since Sarbanes-Oxley (July 2002) Auditors Wall Street and credibility in high places. American law: Same sex marriages / gun control / affirmative action / the Patriot of Act II ? [...]

[...] Gun control : vary from state to state, because mindset of the people vary. It gives to American the right to have guns at home. NY : guns hid Arizona : right to show gun in street. - to take stance : to take position. compromise (thinking) before acting. IRAK: - French gv : no significant proof for weapons in Irak. - Americans : not enough proofs that it isn't. 1st Golf war (in unconditional surrender. What happened after the 1st Golf war was not sustainable because the Irak: population was suffering. [...]