How do Foreigners View the Oncoming Apocalypse of the USA National Election?

[HKim]

What some people may not realize about the United States government, is that there are a strong series of checks and balances built into it. Unlike a parliamentary system, for example, the executive and legislative branches are not united together. They can, will, and have disagreed with each other.

This is usually the case when one party controls the presidency and the other controls the legislature, but can occur if different elements in the party control each one (as might be the case with a Trump presidency).

One should also note that the US government has two legislative bodies (similar to an upper and lower house legislature), each with different ratio of representation, re-election period, and authorities. Both legislative bodies must be in agreement for any legislation to pass.

The judicial system is designed to ensure that laws and executive actions are legal in the framework of the Constitution (the highest law in the United States). The Supreme Court is composed of justices that have been selected for life, and thus are (theoretically) not swayed by any election cycles or swings in mood. Their rule can last decades.

Plus, unlike a lot of nations, the United States grants a lot of authorities to its lower governments. This doesn't just include states (provinces), but also counties and cities. A governor of a state can significantly control a large portion of how certain laws are implemented in his or her state. Please also note that state governments (and other local authorities) also have their own legislative bodies.

All of this leads to one very complicated system where no one person, one group, or even one party can easily make any change to the government on a massive scale. Simply put, it is impossible for anyone to control everything given the size and complexity of the US government system. This is intentional, as written into the Constitution of the United States. Even influential presidents have difficulty achieving major changes to how the nation functions.

To some, this may seem dysfunctional, but I argue that this very design is critical to how the United States works. So even if someone with extreme views is elected president, that person cannot wholesale change the way the nation works or how it interacts with others. And while such a person certainly can do some damage, one cannot destroy a nation (save with nukes).

As such, while I'm concerned at how this election cycle has progressed, I am not worried about the future of the nation. One man or one woman won't change the fundamental character of the United States.