Politics of the United States facts for kids
The United States is a country with a special type of government. It's called a federal constitutional republic. This means power is shared between a central government and individual states.
The President of the United States is the country's leader. They are both the head of state and the head of government. The President works with the Congress and the courts. These three parts of the government share power. They all follow the rules set by the Constitution of the United States.
The Constitution of the United States divides the government into three main parts, called "branches." This is known as the separation of powers. Each branch has its own job and powers.
The executive branch is led by the President. This branch carries out the laws. It also manages the daily business of the country.
The legislative branch makes the laws. It is made up of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This branch interprets the laws. It makes sure laws follow the Constitution of the United States. It also helps solve disagreements between the other branches.
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Political Parties in the US
In the United States, two main political parties are very important. These are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. They have been the biggest parties since the American Civil War.
There are also many smaller parties. Some examples include the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and the Constitution Party. These parties have less influence than the two main ones.
How the US System is Different
The way the US government works is different from many other democracies. For example, the Senate has a lot of power. The Supreme Court also has a very wide range of power.
Another big difference is the separation of powers. The people who make laws (Congress) are separate from the people who carry them out (the President). Also, only two main parties usually win elections. Smaller parties often have less influence here than in other countries.
The US Constitution created a federal system. This means the national government shares power with the states. Most people live under a state government. They are also part of local governments, like counties and cities.
The states actually created the federal government. The original colonies started as separate governments. They then joined together to form the United States. New states joined later, following the same model.
State and Local Governments
The USA is a union of fifty states. Each state has its own governor and legislature. These state governments make laws for their own state.
Every state also sends two senators to the United States Senate. These senators represent their entire state. People also elect representatives. These representatives speak for their local district in the United States House of Representatives.
The President of the United States
The President of the United States is the country's top leader. American citizens vote for the President every four years. This is done through democratic elections.
The President also chooses people to work in different government departments. These departments focus on specific areas, like education or defense.
See also
In Spanish: Política de los Estados Unidos para niños
