THE US SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT American politics since shortly after George Washington's

presidency.
Since the American Civil War, two parties dominate the U.S.
The United States: politics:
 Number of States: 50 states - The Democratic Party
 Capital: Washington DC - The Republican Party, although other parties have
 Declaration of independence: July 4th, 1776 existed.
 Constitution: 1787
These two parties have won every U.S. presidential
election since 1852 and have controlled the U.S.
The Federal government Congress since at least 1856. From time to time, a third
party has achieved some minor representation at the national
General presentation and state levels. The State government
The Democratic Party has generally supported left-of-
The politics of the United States function within a framework The federal entity created by the U.S. Constitution is the
center policies, while the Republican Party has generally
of a Constitutional federal republic & Presidential system. dominant feature of the American political system, as citizens
supported right-of-center ones.
are also subject to a State government and various units of
With three distinct branches that share powers: local government.
Features of the political system
 The U.S. Congress There are major differences between the political system of State governments have the power to make laws on all
It forms the legislative branch: A bicameral legislative the United States and that of many other developed subjects that are not granted to the federal government, nor
body comprising the House of Representatives and countries, including: denied to the states in the U.S. Constitution (These
the Senate. include education, family law, contract law, and most crimes).
 An upper legislative house (the Senate), with much more These laws are linked to matters that lie entirely within state
 The executive branch 
power than is found in equivalent bodies in most other borders.
Headed by the president of the US, who serves as the countries;
Each State has:
country's head of state and government. The people through  A separation of powers between the legislature and
the Electoral College elect him indirectly. The POTUS is the executive; and - A constitution following the pattern of the federal
independent of the legislature. He holds office for a four-year  A political landscape dominated by only two main parties. constitution (including a statement of the rights of the
term renewable once. A vice-president and a cabinet assist The United States is one of the world's only developed people and a plan for organizing the government) but
him. differing in details.
countries where all additional parties have minimal or
 The judicial branch nonexistent influence and almost no representation at - Three branches: an executive branch headed by
the national and state level. a governor, a legislative body, and judicial branch.
Composed of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts,
and which exercises judicial power. Relationship between the three branches The chief executive of a state is its popularly
elected governor, who typically holds office for a four-year
Its function is to interpret the United States term (although in some states the term is two years).
Constitution and federal laws and regulations. This includes Except for Nebraska, which has unicameral legislature, all
resolving disputes between the executive and legislative States have a bicameral legislature, with the upper house
branches. usually called the Senate and the lower house called
the House of Representatives, the Assembly or something
Political parties in the US
similar. In most states, senators serve four-year terms, and
The United States Constitution never formally addressed the members of the lower house serve two-year terms.
issue of political parties, primarily because the Founding
Fathers opposed them. Nonetheless, parties — specifically the Pressure groups
"two-party system" — have been a fundamental part of
Special interest groups advocate the cause of their interests.
Business organizations, for example, will favor low corporate
taxes and restrictions on the right to strike, whereas labor
unions will support minimum wage legislation and protection
for collective bargaining. Other private interest groups, such
as churches and ethnic groups, are more concerned about
broader issues of policy that can affect their organizations or
their beliefs.