How Your Government Works
A plain-English guide to American democracy: who holds power, how decisions get made, and what you can do about it. Factual and non-partisan.
The 3 Branches of Government
The Founders split government into three separate parts on purpose, so no single person or group could get too much power. Each branch has its own job, and each one can limit the others. This system is called checks and balances.
Legislative Branch
Congress
- ·Writes and passes laws
- ·Controls the federal budget
- ·Senate: 100 members (2 per state, 6-year terms)
- ·House: 435 members (based on population, 2-year terms)
- ·Can override the President's veto
- ·Can remove the President from office
Elected by voters in each state
Executive Branch
President
- ·Carries out and enforces the laws
- ·Signs bills into law or vetoes them
- ·Commands the military
- ·Runs federal agencies (FBI, EPA, etc.)
- ·Appoints Supreme Court justices
- ·Elected every 4 years, max 2 terms
Elected nationally every 4 years
Judicial Branch
Federal Courts
- ·Decides if laws follow the Constitution
- ·Supreme Court: 9 justices
- ·Can strike down any law, even one Congress passed
- ·Cases work up from lower courts
- ·Justices are appointed for life
NOT elected. Appointed by the President, confirmed by Senate
How They Check Each Other
Congress → President
Can override a veto with a 2/3 vote. Can impeach (remove) the President.
President → Congress
Can veto any bill Congress passes, sending it back for another vote.
Courts → Both
Can rule any law or executive action unconstitutional, making it void.
How a Law Gets Made
Any citizen can have an idea for a law. But to actually become law, it has to survive a long process and get approved by multiple people.
Citizen or lawmaker has an idea
Rep or Senator writes it as a bill
House debates & votes (must pass)
Senate debates & votes (must pass)
President signs it
It's a law!
What if the President says no? That's called a veto. Congress can still make it law anyway, but only if 2/3 of both the House and Senate vote yes again. That's a high bar on purpose.
Your Role as a Citizen
The government gets its power from the people. That's not just a saying. It's in the first line of the Constitution. Here's how you participate.
Vote
Every election matters: federal, state, and local. Presidential elections get the most attention, but school board and city council elections often affect your daily life the most.
Contact Your Reps
Your elected officials work for you. Calling or writing to them actually influences how they vote. They count constituent contacts. It works.
Stay Informed
Know who represents you and how they vote on issues you care about. That's exactly what RepRadar is built for.
Run for Office
Anyone can run. City council and school board seats are a real way to shape your community. Most local races are decided by very small margins.