Understanding the U.S. Government Structure

The U.S. government is based on a system of federalism, dividing power between the national government and state governments. This dual sovereignty ensures a balance, preventing either level from becoming too powerful.

Unlike the House of Representatives, each state, regardless of population, has two senators. This small-state bias ensures that less populous states have equal representation in the Senate, maintaining a balance of power.

The concept of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional, was established in 1803 with Marbury v. Madison, though it’s not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.

The President is elected not by popular vote but through the Electoral College. Each state’s electoral votes equal its total number of Senators and Representatives, which can lead to a candidate winning without the popular vote.

The U.S. government features a system of checks and balances, where each of the three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—can limit the powers of the others. This prevents any single branch from usurping total control.

If the Electoral College ties, the House elects the President and the Senate elects the Vice President, a rare but constitutionally provided scenario.