Executive Legislative Judicial Executive

Douglas K. Barry, Ed.D., U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce

Carol A. Bonosaro, Senior Executives Association

Elizabeth A. Sherman, Ph.D.

, 

Presidential Classroom

Donald A. Ritchie, U.S. Senate Historical Office

Paul Rundquist, formerly Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress

Vincent T. Tizzio, American International Group

Dr. Andrew R. Uscher, Senior Executives Association

David K. Voight, U.S. Small Business Administration

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3

Overview of national, state, and local governments 

in the United States

The American system of government, begun 

as an experiment in liberty and democracy in 

1776, has proven to be remarkably resilient 

and adaptable. 

While often categorized as a democracy, 

the United States is more accurately defi ned 

as a constitutional federal republic. What does 

this mean?  “Constitutional” refers to the fact 

that government in the United States is based 

on a Constitution which is the supreme law of 

the United States. The Constitution not only 

provides the framework for how the federal 

and state governments are structured, but 

also places signifi cant limits on their powers. 

“Federal” means that there is both a national 

government and governments of the 50 states. 

A “republic” is a form of government in which 

the people hold power, but elect representa-

tives to exercise that power.