Safekipedia

Federal government of the United States

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

The grand western front of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., showcasing its impressive Neoclassical architecture.

The United States Federal Government

The federal government of the United States is the country’s main group of leaders. It has three big parts that work together. These parts help make rules, follow rules, and explain rules for everyone in the country.

One part is called the legislative branch. This part makes the laws. It is called United States Congress and has two groups: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House has many members from all over the country. The Senate has two members from each state. Together, they decide what the rules will be.

The second part is the executive branch. It follows the laws. The leader of this branch is the president. The president lives in the White House in Washington, D.C.. The president has helpers called the Cabinet. They work in special groups called departments, like State and Defense.

The third part is the judicial branch. It explains the laws. The biggest group here is the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court listens to important cases and decides what the laws mean.

The federal government works with each of the 50 states. States have their own leaders, like governors. The federal government and states share powers to make sure everyone is taken care of.

The rules for how the government works are written in the Constitution of the United States. This important paper was created a long time ago, in 1789. It helps keep the country running smoothly.

People in the United States choose their leaders through votes. Most people can vote when they turn 18. This helps everyone have a say in how the country is run.

Images

Historical diagram showing the three branches of the U.S. federal government during the Civil War, featuring symbolic figures and representations of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, painted by Rembrandt Peale in 1800.
Diagram showing how many seats each U.S. state has in the House of Representatives, based on population.
The White House illuminated at night, a famous landmark in Washington, D.C.
A pie chart showing how the U.S. federal government collects and spends money in 2021.
A chart showing the relationship between federal debt and federal revenue in the United States.
A colorful map showing the states and counties of the United States.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Federal government of the United States, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.