What Kind of Government Does the United States Have?

Formally referred to as the Government of the United States of America, the government at the national level is defined as a modern national federation government, although it is also called a democratic republic. How much power the federal government should have is constantly debated in national politics—some favor more federal power while some favor less.

The United States government is designed to keep power spread throughout a large group of people. Although this system often slows the progress of change, it exists to ensure that the constitution of the United States is upheld and that changes to federal law are valid and necessary and desired by a majority of citizens in the United States.

The seat of the federal government is located in Washington, D.C., which houses the legislative branch in the Capitol building, the executive branch in the White House and the judicial branch in the Supreme Court.

Legislative Branch

The houses of the legislature are called the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of both houses draft bills and vote on whether bills should be made law or not although each has a niche. Typically, bills must pass through both houses favorably and be approved by the President to become law.

The House of Representatives is composed via population statistics—states are divided into congressional districts by how densely populated an area is and one representative is elected to speak for that area. As of 2010, there were 435 representatives, and each serves a term of two years.

The Senate is considered more prestigious. Each state elects two senators, a mode of organization meant to protect the rights of smaller states. These officials serve a term of six years, making the turnover rate considerably lower than the House of Representatives.

Executive Branch

The executive branch consists of the President of the United States, the Vice President and the cabinet members. The President is the highest elected official in the country, with the primary duties being acting as head of state, the military commander-in-chief and the chief diplomat in relations with foreign nations. They can also sign legislation passed by congress into law, and they have the power to veto congressional bills so that the bill never becomes federal law.

The Vice President takes over the President’s job if he or she dies or becomes too ill to govern. The Vice President also acts as President of the Senate, acting as a leader and a tiebreaker for the body.

The Secretary of State is another important figure in the executive branch. He or she acts as an advisor to the President in foreign affairs and is responsible for interdepartmental activities of the government overseas.

The President's cabinet consists of fifteen departments, with the heads of each being chosen by the President following election. The departments range from the Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture and Department of Education.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch interprets the constitution and laws made by Congress. The Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States, comprises this branch of government. Nine people serve on this court, and each has been appointed by a President.

Serving as a Supreme Court justice is a lifelong task—the judicial branch doesn’t need to be concerned with reelections because of term limits. The Supreme Court handles cases that include the federal government or cases in which a major power is needed to interpret the constitution. In doing so, the court will establish precedents that aids other justices in ruling on cases with similar situations.

Balance Results in Progress

With three distinct branches of government, a complex system of checks and balances is established and the ebb and flow of federal power is allowed to continue.