USA

The United States' electoral process is marred by a strong media focus on major parties, and difficult registration procedures in some states.

The media is free, and access to government information is good.

The traditional emphasis on civil rights was somewhat compromised by anti-terror legislation following the 9/11 attacks.

Regulations and tax codes are complex. Corruption prevention is lax.

United States macroeconomic policy is focused relatively heavily on employment.

With high labor mobility, low payroll fringe costs, and low minimum wages, unemployment has been kept low.

Businesses have benefited from a deep and liquid capital market, and sophisticated financial instruments.

Taxes are competitive, but inequitable, and fail to cover government costs. Public debt is high, and set to rise substantially.

The U.S. welfare state is underdeveloped, with high levels of poverty and inequity prevailing.

Health care provides high quality care to the majority that has private insurance. Nearly one-sixth of Americans lack health coverage.

Spending on family support programs is limited, but working mothers benefit from anti-discrimination laws. Birth rates are comparatively high.

The pension system prevents poverty for most, but not all, retirees.

The United States accounts for almost half the world's military expenditure. The 9/11 terrorist attacks focused security policy on anti-terror issues.

Homicide and incarceration rates are both very high.

While integration policy is minimal, the United States is generally receptive to immigrants. Immigration policy has been politically controversial, however.

The United States' energy consumption is extraordinarily high. Environmental policies have made strides in recent decades, but climate-change issues suffered under the Bush administration.

R&D support is strong, and technological innovation highly valued.

Education is often of high quality, but inequitably funded and delivered. Patterns of racial and economic segregation persist.

Strategic planning plays an important role in U.S. government decision-making, but can be skewed by the administration's ideological goals.

The White House plays an active and powerful role in coordinating government activities.

RIA procedures are well developed.

Consultation with societal groups is frequent, but informal. The Bush administration was generally successful at managing its public communications.

During the review period, 81.4 percent of government-sponsored bills were adopted. The administration was more successful in 2005 and 2006, under a Republican congress.

The Supreme Court can overturn legislation, but rarely does.

Despite holding a majority in both legislative houses through 2006, President Bush failed to win support for his domestic reform agenda.

While focused on exporting democracy to other nations, the United States resists foreign pressure to adapt its own government structures.

The country participates in international reform initiatives to the extent they are in its interest.

The government uses economic, financial, cultural and military power to export its own reform priorities.

The U.S. governance system offers considerable potential for strategic reform.

However, the Bush administration substituted advice from individuals trusted by the president for objective analysis, reducing the strategic capacity of the U.S. government.

U.S. citizens generally have low policy knowledge. In-depth media coverage of government varies, with attention to international issues low.

Legislative oversight powers are substantial.

Party programs are often incoherent, and are not considered binding. Interest groups often make plausible proposals, and are influential.