Government of the United States of America: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Bush Cheney Pelosi.jpg|thumb|300px|President [[George W. Bush]] delivering the State of the Union address, 2007. Also pictured are [[Vice-President of the United States of America|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Speaker of the House of Representatives]] [[Nancy Pelosi]].]] | [[Image:Bush Cheney Pelosi.jpg|thumb|300px|President [[George W. Bush]] delivering the State of the Union address, 2007. Also pictured are [[Vice-President of the United States of America|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Speaker of the House of Representatives]] [[Nancy Pelosi]].]] | ||
The '''[[ | The '''[[Government]] of the [[United States of America]]''' is [[separation of powers|separated]] by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] into [[U.S. Congress|legislative]], executive and [[U.S. judicial system|judicial branch]]es: [[U.S. Congress|Congress]], the [[President of the United States of America|office of President]] and subordinates, and the federal courts, the highest of which is the [[Supreme Court of the United States of America|Supreme Court]]. The two chambers of Congress, the [[House of Representatives]] and the [[U.S. Senate|Senate]], are directly elected by U.S. citizens, who also vote for [[U.S. Electoral College| electors]] who in turn choose the President and Vice-President. The House and Senate respectively choose the President and Vice-President if this Electoral College does not produce nominees. | ||
==Federalism== | ==Federalism== | ||
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==Legislative branch== | ==Legislative branch== | ||
{{main|House of Representatives|U.S. Senate}} | {{main|House of Representatives|U.S. Senate}} | ||
The legislative branch of the federal government is composed of the Congress. The Congress is bicameral (two houses), and consists of the House of Representatives and Senate. All states have two senators, and each state's number of representatives is decided by the state's population. | The legislative branch of the federal government is composed of the Congress. The Congress is bicameral (two houses), and consists of the House of Representatives and Senate. All states have two senators, and each state's number of representatives is decided by the state's population. | ||
==Executive branch== | ==Executive branch== | ||
[[Image:Georgewbush.jpg|right|thumb|George W. Bush in 2007. | [[Image:Georgewbush.jpg|right|thumb|Former President [[George W. Bush]] in 2007.|250px]] | ||
{{main|President of the United States of America}} | {{main|President of the United States of America}} | ||
As [[ | As [[Head of State]], the President appoints members of the executive, subject to Senate scrutiny, and [[judge]]s to the Supreme Court. The current Head of State and head of government is {{headofstate|United States of America}}, serving a four-year term. | ||
==Judicial branch== | ==Judicial branch== | ||
{{seealso|Supreme Court of the | {{seealso|U.S. judicial system}} | ||
The judicial branch consists of a system of federal courts, with the Supreme Court at the top. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to interpret federal law, determine if laws are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, determine the legality of decisions made by the Court of Appeals and make determinations of due process, but does not normally make factual determinations or findings of fact (except in certain narrow categories of cases such as lawsuits between States). | |||
It is headed by the "Highest Court in the Land," the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] (nicknamed "SCOTUS"). This court is composed of 9 justices (judges) who are appointed for life by the president. The Supreme Court serves as the last resort for appeals the court itself chooses to hear. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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*[[Vice President of the United States of America]] | *[[Vice President of the United States of America]] | ||
*[[Speaker of the House of Representatives]] | *[[Speaker of the House of Representatives]] | ||
*[[Supreme Court of the United States | *[[Supreme Court of the United States]] | ||
*[[Law of the United States]] | *[[Law of the United States]] | ||
*[[United States of America]] | *[[United States of America]] | ||
*[[21st United States Congress]] | |||
[[Category:CZ Live]] | [[Category:CZ Live]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:45, 10 February 2024
The Government of the United States of America is separated by the Constitution into legislative, executive and judicial branches: Congress, the office of President and subordinates, and the federal courts, the highest of which is the Supreme Court. The two chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, are directly elected by U.S. citizens, who also vote for electors who in turn choose the President and Vice-President. The House and Senate respectively choose the President and Vice-President if this Electoral College does not produce nominees.
Federalism
There are three main levels of government in the United States, and they are not strictly hierarchical, i.e. local governments are subordinate to state governments, but the states are subordinate to the Federal government only in some matters but not in others. The question of the exact relationship is the issue of "federalism"; the main points were settled by the American Civil War and Reconstruction, but small points remain a matter of political and constitutional debate.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch of the federal government is composed of the Congress. The Congress is bicameral (two houses), and consists of the House of Representatives and Senate. All states have two senators, and each state's number of representatives is decided by the state's population.
Executive branch
As Head of State, the President appoints members of the executive, subject to Senate scrutiny, and judges to the Supreme Court. The current Head of State and head of government is Joe Bidene, serving a four-year term.
Judicial branch
- See also: U.S. judicial system
The judicial branch consists of a system of federal courts, with the Supreme Court at the top. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to interpret federal law, determine if laws are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, determine the legality of decisions made by the Court of Appeals and make determinations of due process, but does not normally make factual determinations or findings of fact (except in certain narrow categories of cases such as lawsuits between States).
It is headed by the "Highest Court in the Land," the Supreme Court of the United States (nicknamed "SCOTUS"). This court is composed of 9 justices (judges) who are appointed for life by the president. The Supreme Court serves as the last resort for appeals the court itself chooses to hear.
See also
- Politics of the United States of America
- United States Constitution
- House of Representatives
- U.S. Senate
- President of the United States of America
- Vice President of the United States of America
- Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Law of the United States
- United States of America
- 21st United States Congress