The federal entity created by the Constitution is the dominant feature of the American governmental system. But the system itself is in reality a mosaic, composed of thousands of smaller units " building blocks that together make up the whole. There are 50 state governments plus the government of the District of Columbia, and further down the ladder are still smaller units that govern counties, cities, towns, and villages.
The American political system consistes of three main branches:.
1. the legislative branch:.
all the legislative powers in the united states are granted to the congress of the united staes.
This legislateive body is composed of two independent houses; the house of representatives and the senate.
a) the senate: .
consistes of 100 members who are composed of 2 senators from each state that will be assigned for six years. Those senators are elected by popular vote. Baring in mind that for a person to become a senator he has to be 30 years of age, has been a citizen of the united states for not less than nine years and to be an inhabitante of the state which he shall be chosen.
The president of the senate is the vice president of the U.S .
The senate has 17 standing committees and a senator sits for about four committees and six subcommittees.
b) the house of representatives:.
it has 435 members whose number is determined according to the population of each state proportionately.
For a person to be a representative he has to be not less than 25 years old and is an inhabitante of the state which he shall be ellected for.the majority party in the house nominated the speaker of the house who serves as a presiding officer and a party leader.
The house has 19 standing committees in which the representative is limited to serving in two standing committees and four subcommitteess. .
The congress:.
The congress has the power of impeachment and the authority to confirm presidential appointments of high officials of the federal government and also it has the authority to ratify treaties by a 2/3 vote.
