The political system of the US
How does it work?
The political system in the US
The United States (US) operates based on a foundational document known as the Constitution.
This constitution determines how power is distributed and the way the country is governed. The US is a representative democracy.
United States of America map with text state names, hand drawn
Democracy
The central government consists of three branches. The first is the executive branch, headed by the President, who oversees national affairs and sets the direction for the country.
Then there is the legislative branch known as Congress. The third branch is the judicial one, led by the Supreme Court.
📷 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. Splitting the power into three branches makes sure that none of them become 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
Media rights:
-
-
Getty Images
-
Getty Images
-
Getty Images
-
