The US is a Federal, Representative, Democratic Republic

Under its Constitution, the United States is a federal, representative, democratic republic at the local, state, and national levels.

• Federal because power is shared by the local, state, and national governments
• Representative because delegates are elected by the people by free and secret ballot
• Democratic because the people govern themselves
• Republic because the U.S. government derives its power from the will of the people

The right to vote allows citizens to help choose the officials who will determine public policy.

The U.S. Constitution states that Congress will consist of two separate houses. The two houses that make up the U.S. Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate.