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Read this article for an overview of the American Government

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The American government is the method by which the United States operates and rules its people. The United States began in 1776 after many years under British control. In 1788, following extensive debate, American leaders crafted the Constitution, a document describing the government of the new country. The Constitution set out the rights of citizens that were to be protected. It also described the government itself as a three-branch system in which every part of the government had its own powers but was also dependent on other parts. Through this system of checks and balances, no single leader or group would become too powerful.

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Fast Facts

The Age of Enlightenment, a time of new ideas in France and other parts of Europe, helped create the ideas of the US government.

The American Revolution was a major battle for freedom against monarchy. Not only did it create the United States, but it also inspired similar revolutions in Latin America, France, and other parts of the world.

The Constitution sets out requirements for candidates for the presidency. A president must be a natural-born citizen of at least thirty-five years of age. Senators may be only thirty. Representatives only need to be twenty-five years old to take office.

Background

Before the United States was an independent country, its territories were colonies of Britain and its people had to obey the British king. By the 1770s, many American colonists believed this system was unfair. In 1774, some colonial leaders met to discuss ways to deal with their problems with Britain. Some delegates began wondering whether the colonies should leave Britain and start a new country.

In 1775, tensions between the colonies and Britain turned to war. Colonists began a long battle to win their freedom from the king. In 1776, colonial leaders announced that the colonies were now a free country known as the United States of America. That year, the Declaration of Independence set out the major beliefs of this new country by saying that its people have rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that cannot be taken away.

The long Revolutionary War between the United States and Britain, lasting from 1775 to 1783, slowed the development of the new government. Even after the United States won the war, delegates from different states disagreed on how the new government should work. It took many years of debate to create a mutually acceptable design for the leadership of the new country.

Founding the Government

In 1788, leaders in the United States ratified the Constitution, a document explaining the design, ideals, and highest laws of the new country. The Constitution contained many new ideas based on the beliefs of the leaders remembered today as the Founding Fathers. One of the most important parts of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, borrowed important ideas from the Declaration of Independence.

The Bill of Rights is a list of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments describe the most basic and important rights of US citizens. The First Amendment boldly states many freedoms that the citizens had not enjoyed under the British king. These freedoms include the freedom of religion, speech, and assembly. Other amendments relate to the rights of people accused of crimes and the rights of people during wartime.

Over time, leaders added many more amendments to the Constitution. Among the most important include assurances of the right to vote and a ban on slavery. Other amendments deal with limits on government power over citizens that help to protect the country against tyranny. By listing these rights, the Constitution ensures that the rights must be protected and cannot legally be taken away without just cause.

Structure of the Government

The Constitution also established the basic design of the new US federal government. The Founding Fathers agreed upon a government with three main branches, or sections, known as the legislative, judicial, and executive. All powers not reserved for the citizens were to be distributed among these three branches. The branches would each hold their own distinct powers and responsibilities.

The legislative branch, often known as Congress, holds the primary power of creating new laws, or legislation. It can also declare war and review some of the decisions made by other branches. To accomplish these crucial tasks, Congress is divided into two groups, the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate has two members from each state who serve for six years. The House of Representatives has 435 members, with each state represented differently based on its population. Representatives serve terms of two years each.

After Congress creates a new law, the judicial branch has the power to examine, study, and evaluate the law. Justices and other members of the judicial branch have to determine whether new legislation agrees with the basic rules and beliefs set out in the Constitution. Laws that are unconstitutional may be removed or sent back to Congress for adjustments. The judicial branch is spread across many courts and judges, with the most well-known being the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court and other courts are often called to settle cases and disagreements relating to laws.

The third branch of the US government is the executive branch. This is the section of the government most concerned with enforcing laws. The most visible members of the executive branch are the president and vice president. This branch also includes a group of presidential advisors known as the cabinet as well as many offices and departments that specialize in different fields. All of these groups help the president by researching topics, offering advice, and guiding presidential policies. Every four years, voters have the opportunity to choose a new president.

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Timeline-Some Important Events in American Government

1774: The First Continental Congress, a meeting of colonial leaders, convenes to discuss problems with Britain.

1776: The Second Continental Congress signs the Declaration of Independence, declaring the United States a free country.

1777: American leaders write the Articles of Confederation, an early government document that is soon replaced.

1783: The American Revolutionary War ends with an American victory.

1788: US leaders accept and adopt the Constitution as the highest law in the country.

1803: The Supreme Court gains the ability to reject laws that do not follow the Constitution.

1865: The Thirteenth Amendment bans slavery throughout the country.

1870: The Fifteenth Amendment guarantees voting rights to all men.

1920: The Nineteenth Amendment guarantees voting rights to all women.

1971: The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowers the legal voting age to eighteen years old.

Balances of Power

The American government is designed to divide powers in several ways to reduce the risk of any one leader or group becoming too powerful. In this way, each part of the government has its own powers and responsibilities, but also requires agreement and cooperation from other parts of government. The Founding Fathers adopted this balance of power to avoid having to return to life under the rule of a king.

In many ways, the powers of each branch of government overlap, allowing branches to check the activities of other branches. For example, the executive branch has the power to veto the legislation passed by the legislative branch. The legislative branch has the power to remove unsuitable presidents from office. The judicial branch can declare new legislation as unconstitutional. The executive branch appoints the justices to serve on the highest national courts, but only with the approval of Congress. This intricate system of checks and balances sometimes makes government actions difficult and confusing. However, it also protects citizens from tyranny.

Governmental powers are also divided on a scale of size, with the three branches of government existing on the federal, state, and local levels. Different roles and responsibilities fall to each level of government. That ensures that the national government cannot take away rights that rightfully belong to the states or cities. It also helps Americans make plans and carry out decisions effectively on many levels.

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Words to Know

amendments

Additions to a document.

colonies

Lands ruled by another country.

delegates

Leaders who gather at a meeting.

independence

Freedom to think and act as one chooses.

Source Citation

Gale Document Number: GALE|ZLMKPF052384696

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United States Capitol Building The American government is the method by which the United States operates and rules its people. The United States began in 1776 after many years under British control. In 1788, following extensive debate, American leaders crafted the Constitution, a document describing the government of the new country.

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Key moments:
3:44 - Constitutional Monarchy (parliament)
6:08 - Constitutional Government
7:15 - United States Government
12:55 - Democratic Countries
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Use the sections to help you find information.

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About Gale In Context: Middle School

Explore the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, history, literature, and more.

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Depending on this location's preferences, the log-in process could include your library card number, a student or user ID, or another provided password. If you don't know how to log in, please contact your library or school directly.

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About Gale In Context: Middle School Explore the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, history, literature, and more. Don't know how to login? Depending on this location's preferences, the log-in process could include your library card number, a student or user ID, or another provided password.

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This has A LOT of information about the entire country.

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United States Encyclopedia: America's People, Places, and Events - Document - National Geographic Kids

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Scroll down to the "Government" section for more information.

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A magazine that focuses just on Canada as a country. Use the table of contents to find the "Government" section.

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Want to learn more about what the president can do? Check this video.
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Who makes up the president's cabinet?
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What is the separation of power?
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