Portal:Government of the United States

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U.S. Government Portal

The government of the United States, established by the U.S. Constitution, is a federal republic of individual states. The laws of the United States are contained in Acts of Congress; administrative regulations, and judicial cases interpreting the statutes and regulations. The federal government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Through a system of "checks and balances", each of these branches has some authority to act on its own, some authority to regulate the other two branches, and has some of its authority, in turn, regulated by one or two other branches.

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The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States of America, and chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Owing to the superpower status of the United States, the American president is widely considered to be the most powerful person on earth and is usually one of the world's best-known public figures. The president chairs the U.S. Cabinet, appoints heads of departments and federal judges. The power of the office has grown significantly, and the incumbent often lays out the legislative agenda and sets the lead in policy-making for the government. The United States was the first nation to create the office of president as the head of state in a modern republic, established with the Constitution of the United States in 1787. The first election was held in 1789. The 1st President was George Washington, and the 43rd and current president is George W. Bush. Once elected, the president is limited to serve two, four-year terms, and only natural-born U.S. citizens of age 35 and older are eligible to serve. A president is elected through direct elections that determine each U.S. state's votes in the electoral college, which in turn casts the vote for the president. (more)

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Selected picture

President Richard Nixonwon 60% of the popular vote and 49 states in the U.S. presidential election, 1972. Photo credit: NationalAtlas

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In the news

President Bush vetoes an expansion of the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The measure has bipartisan support and Congressional backers may secure a veto-proof supermajority.Washington Post
The New York Times reports on secret Justice Department memos endorsing the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" widely regarded as torture. Previous memos indicated the opposite.NPR
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigns after numerous controversies. President Bush nominates Michael B. Mukasey (pictured) to fill his post.Washington Post
Commander David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker deliver a report on Iraq that recommends troop drawdowns by summer, 2008. The Economist
Republican Senator Larry Craig rescinds his earlier promise to resign from the Senate amid ongoing scandal.CNN
José Padilla is convicted of various terrorism-related conspiracy crimes.PBS

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Current legislation

Legislation

H.R. 2102 - a bill shielding reporters and their sources from judicial inquiry.NY Times
H.R. 2419 - a 2007 Farm bill comes close to passage in the Senate.The Hill
H.R. 976 - an expansion to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) program is vetoed by the President.Congresspedia

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