Political System of the USA (1371)

The United States of America is a Federal Republic consisting of 50 states. The federal district of Columbia is an independent territorial unit. According to the U.S. Constitution the power of the government is divided into three branches – the legislative, the executive and the judicial branches. The powers given to each branch are carefully balanced by the powers of the other two. Each branch serves as a check on the others.

The Legislative branch is the Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators, two from each state. One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office. The House of Representatives has 435 members. They are elected every two years for two-year terms. Congress makes all laws, and each house of Congress has the power to introduce legislation.

The Executive branch is responsible for administering and executing the laws. It includes the President, Vice-president and the Cabinet, consisting of fourteen Secretaries of the executive departments. The head of each department is appointed by the President. The President is the head of the state and the government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the USA. He is elected every four years to a four-year term of office, with no more than two full terms allowed.

The Judicial branch of the federal government includes the Supreme Court of the United States and the system of federal courts. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices, holding office for life. It has the responsibility of judging the constitutionality of acts of law.

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