The President of the United States makes up the executive branch of the US government.
The President "executes" the laws of the land, swears to uphold the US Constitution, and serves as the Commander in Chief of the military.
There are two parts of Congress, which is what we call the legislative branch of the US government: The House of Representatives and The Senate. The Vice President is the president of the Senate.
Congress is responsible to represent the will of the American people and create laws that adhere to the constitution.
The judicial branch of the US government is made up of the Supreme Court and the Federal Judicial Center.
The judges are appointed, not elected. The President appoints them and the Senate confirms the appointments.
In 1776, the original 13 colonies unanimously agreed to declare independence from the British monarchy. They determined to become a self-governing nation:
The United States of America.
Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government.
Its first three words – “We The People” – affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens.
The US Constitution can be amended if two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate agree to make a change to it. Then, three-quarters of State legislatures must agree to ratify the changes to the US Constitution.
The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution are called:
The Bill of Rights.
The House of Representatives are a group of leaders within Congress, along with their counterparts in the Senate. These individuals are often referred to as a congressman, congresswoman, or congressperson. Each representative is elected to a two-year term and they are responsible to serve the people of a specific congressional district within their State. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435. Currently, there are five delegates representing the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A resident commissioner represents Puerto Rico. - source
US Senators are a group of leaders within Congress, along with their counterparts in the House of Representatives. Senators have a select number of powers and procedures that the American constitution has bestowed upon them. Their role includes censure, declaration of war, expulsion, filibuster & cloture, impeachment, investigations, nominations, rules, treaties, and voting. - source
Powers not granted to the Federal government are reserved for States and the people, which are divided between State and local governments.
Most Americans have more frequent contact with their State and local governments than with the Federal Government.
Police departments, libraries, and schools—not to mention driver’s licenses and parking tickets—usually fall under the oversight of State and local governments. Each state has its own written constitution, and these documents are often far more elaborate than their Federal counterpart. - source
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