How The United States Government Works

When the American Revolution was over, the colonies needed to create a new plan for organizing their government.

This called this plan the “Articles of Confederation” which allowed the states to act as separate countries, but it wasn’t long before they started to disagree on many things.


Question 1 of 2

1. The legislative branch is headed by the U.S. President


Question 1 of 2

Question 2 of 2

2. The legislative branch is formed by the U.S. Congress. Congress consists of


Question 2 of 2


The next lesson: Local Government 
Continue learning.

Increase your GED test score quickly

Sometimes just a few points decide if you pass or fail the GED test.

  • Having a poor GED test-taking technique can cost you your diploma.
  • Don’t allow this to happen to you!
  • Learn how to increase your GED score by preparing with the Covcel GED Prep Course.

Check how Covcel can help you.

Most states agreed that they were in need of a far better plan.

Then, in 1787, the state delegates started to work on creating a new form of government. This better and new plan was the “United States Constitution”. This plan was describing a system where the federal government shared power with the states. The U.S. federal government has the power to come up with decisions that would affect the entire nation. It has the power to print money, make treaties with other nations, control the nation’s military, and tax its citizens.

States have the power to establish state governments as well as local governments, come up with state laws, and elect the state’s officials. States can set up their own courts and raise revenue through taxation of the state’s residents.

Some states didn’t want to sign this Constitution unless U.S. citizens’ rights would be added. Consequently, the Bill of Rights was born. The Bill of Rights is protecting rights such as the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press.

Sharing Power

Blair got her GED Diploma in 2 months

Covcel made obtaining my GED quick and painless. I was able to get my GED completed in approximately 2 months while on unemployment. I didn’t have to worry about making it to classes and did it from the comfort of my own home- Blair P.

Check how Covcel works

The U.S. Constitution is dividing the federal government into 3 (three) branches:

The legislative branch is formed by the U.S. Congress. It is making our nation’s laws.

The executive branch is headed by the U.S. President and carries out the nation’s laws.

The judicial branch is there to settle disagreements about the nation’s laws.

Each of the three branches has the power to check, or hold back, the other two branches’ choices.

This is the system that we call “checks and balances.” It divides the power equally over the three branches.

In Congress, politicians are representing the voters. They are working to get laws passed that are representing their voters’ ideas.

Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In all states, the voters elect two (2) senators and senators serve for six (6) years.

State voters will also elect their representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives. The states’ number of representatives is depending on its population. For example, Florida has 25 representatives and all representative will serve for two (2) years.

More GED Prep