United States Government

2 Pages 436 Words

United States Government


The governmental system of the United States can be described generally as a constitutional democracy. Government makes certain demands on its citizens, but only to promote the general welfare of the society as a whole. The government guarantees its citizens certain rights, such as the freedom to practice their chosen religions, but it restricts them from engaging in other activities, such as driving over the speed limit or paying an employee less than the minimum wage.
The United States is a democracy, which means that the people rule. It is also a representative government because the people elect leaders who will represent their viewpoint when making government decisions. It is also a constitutional government because it operates according to a set of laws and principles that are outlined in a document known as the Constitution of the United States.
The government is made up of millions of people, including diplomats, soldiers, federal law enforcement officers, congressmen and congresswomen, senators, the president, and the Supreme Court justices, as well as office workers, tax collectors, scientists, and people in hundreds of other professions. Many United States government employees are elected to their positions by the people they represent.
55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia to draft a new constitution for the United States, which had recently won its independence from England. To limit the government's authority, the delegates came up with the concept of separation of powers. This system limits the power of government by dividing authority among three different branches called the legislative, the judicial, and the executive.
The House of Representatives has 435 voting members. Its members are called representatives. Representatives represent the people who live in a congressional district. The members of the House of Representatives choose their own leader, who is called the speaker of ...