System of Government

What to know

The federal government has three branches. The legislative branch (Congress) makes federal laws. The executive branch, led by the President, carries out and enforces them. The judicial branch, the federal courts with the Supreme Court at the top, interprets the laws.

Congress has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 senators, two from each state, elected for six-year terms; a senator must be at least 30. The House has 435 voting members, elected for two-year terms; a representative must be at least 25. Only Congress can declare war, and the Senate confirms many of the President’s appointments.

The President is elected for a four-year term and can be elected no more than twice (22nd Amendment). The President must be at least 35, is commander in chief of the military, and signs bills into law or vetoes them. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. If the President can no longer serve, the Vice President becomes President first.

The President is formally chosen by the Electoral College. There are 538 electors, so a candidate normally needs 270 electoral votes to win. Federal general elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

States have their own governments too: a governor leads each state’s executive branch, and many cities are led by a mayor. The two major political parties today are the Democratic and Republican parties. The Supreme Court currently has nine justices, a number set by federal law.

Key facts to remember

• Three branches: legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces), judicial (interprets).
• 100 senators, 6-year terms, minimum age 30.
• 435 voting representatives, 2-year terms, minimum age 25.
• President: 4-year term, at most two elections, minimum age 35.
• 270 of 538 electoral votes normally wins the presidency.
• A two-thirds vote in both chambers overrides a veto.
• The Supreme Court has nine justices.
• Answers that change with elections, such as your senators, representative and governor, should be checked at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates and on official government sites.

Read the official study materials

This summary is our own and doesn’t replace the official guide. Read “System of Government” in the USCIS study materials on uscis.gov, then test yourself below. Next topic: Rights & responsibilities.