The Constitution sets up a federal system of government by dividing powers between the national, state and local governments.
Two characteristics of this three-tier system of American government are fundamental. First, citizens elect officials to serve in the national, state and local governments. The authority of each level rests with the people. Second, each level of government raises money through taxation from the citizens living in the area it serves. Unless each level of government can raise its own fiscal resources, it cannot act independently.
The idea of separating powers among the various elements of government was designed to restrict governmental power and prevent its abuse. Wherever possible, the Founding Fathers built a system of "checks and balances" into the Constitution so that no one part of the government could supplant the other.
At the national level, the federal government is further divided into three autonomous branches.
The executive branch, symbolized by the office of the president of the United States, enforces the law.
The legislative branch, symobolized by the U.S. Congress, makes the laws.
And the judicial branch, symbolized by the Supreme Court, interprets these laws and decides whether they are compatable with the Constitution.
- Outline of the U.S. Government
- Obama in His Own Words
- Barack Obama: 44th President of the United Statess
- Obama in Cairo: A Commemorative Transcript
- USA: Elections in Brief
- The Long Campaign: U.S. Elections 2008
- About America: How the U.S. Is Governed
- Principles of Democracy
- Outline of U.S. Legal System
- The U.S. Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under Law eJournal USA
- Anatomy of a Jury Trial eJournal USA
- The 2009 U.S. Presidential Inauguration eJournal USA
- U.S. Presidential Transitions eJournal USA
- The Candidates eJournal USA
- The Electoral College eJournal USA
- The Supreme Court and the United States eJournal USA
- Learning Objectives: United States Government Structure US Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Our American Government- US House of Representatives, Committee on House Administration
- Plum Book: U.S. Government Policy and Supporting Positions
- U.S. Government Manual
- Government Resources
- Federal, State, and Local Governments US Census Bureau
- Fedstats
- Statistical Abstract: Federal Government Finances and Employment - US Census Bureau
- Budget of the United States Government
- Abbreviations and Acronyms of the U.S. Government
- USA.gov
- Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
- Core Documents of U.S. Democracy
- U.S. Government - America.gov
- Ethics The White House
- The Constitution of the United States
- The Constitution: Amendments 11-27
- Constitution of the United States of America NARA
- About America: The Constitution of the United States of America with Explanatory Notes
- Constitution of the United States: Analysis and Interpretation
- Rights of the People
- Principles of Democracy
- Democracy in Brief
- More Than Elections: How Democracies Transfer Power eJournal USA
- Markets and Democracy eJournal USA
- The Annual Budget Process
- Budget Process US House of Representatives, Committee on Rules
- CBO's Role in the Budget Process
[Last Updated: 9/16/2010]