The political system of the US
How does it work?
The political system in the US
The United States (US) has a federal system, divided between a central government and the states. Each state has its autonomy, with its own set of leaders and laws.
The US is a constitutional republic and a representative democracy.
United States of America map with text state names, hand drawn
Democracy
The three branches of government are the executive branch, headed by the President; the legislative branch, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and the judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court. The legislative branch is also known as Congress.
📷 Senate chamber, Capitol, Washington (USA)
Antique black and white photograph of Washington, USA: Senate chamber, Capitol
The separation of powers
The President is the head of both state and government. The Senate has 100 members, two from each state, and the House of Representatives has 435 members based on population. The Supreme Court interprets the constitution. The separation of powers and a system of checks and balances prevent one branch from becoming too powerful.
U.S. Supreme Court with a cloudy backdrop
Sources:
- The White House (06.09.2023): Our Government
Our Government | The White House
- USCIS.gov (06.09.2023): Government and You
Government_and_You_handouts.pdf (uscis.gov)
- BBC (06.09.2023): How does the US political system work?
How does the US political system work? – BBC Bitesize
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