How US Government Works

The rulebook

The US Constitution (1787) sets the rules for everything. Its first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, protect things like free speech, religion, a free press and a fair trial.

Three branches

The founders split power so no one person or group could take over.

• Legislative (Congress) writes the laws. It has two chambers: the House of Representatives (435 members, based on population, elected every 2 years) and the Senate (100 members, 2 per state, 6-year terms).
• Executive (the president) carries out the laws, leads the military and runs federal agencies. Terms are 4 years, with a limit of two.
• Judicial (the courts) decides what laws mean and whether they follow the Constitution. The Supreme Court has 9 justices who serve for life.

Checks and balances

Each branch can block the others:

• The president can veto a bill. Congress can override that veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
• The Senate confirms the president’s picks for judges and top officials.
• Courts can strike down laws or actions as unconstitutional.
• Congress can impeach a president (the House charges, the Senate holds the trial).

How a bill becomes a law

1. Someone in Congress introduces a bill.
2. Committees study it and change it.
3. The House and Senate each vote. Both must pass the same version.
4. The president signs it, or vetoes it.

It’s not all Washington

The US is federal: states have their own governments, governors, laws and courts. Things like driving ages, many taxes and schools are mostly decided by states and cities.