Federal Government

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  National government

• Composition

  Three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial

• Governing Document

  U.S. Constitution

• Seat of Government

  Washington, D.C.

• Sovereignty Status

  Shares sovereignty with 50 states; recognizes sovereign powers of Indigenous tribes

• Jurisdiction over Indigenous Tribes

  Federal jurisdiction

Timeline

• The U.S. Constitution, defining the powers of the federal government's three branches, came into continuous effect. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1789-03-04

Federal government of the United States

The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States. The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Powers of these three branches are defined and vested by the U.S. Constitution, which has been in continuous effect since March 4, 1789. The powers and duties of these branches are further defined by Acts of Congress, including the creation of executive departments and courts subordinate to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the federal division of power, the federal government shares sovereignty with each of the 50 states in their respective territories. U.S. law recognizes Indigenous tribes as possessing sovereign powers, while being subject to federal jurisdiction.

Web Search Results

• Our Government

  The Federal Government is composed of three distinct branches:legislative,executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the Federal courts, respectively. Powers not granted to the Federal Government are reserved for States and the people, which are divided between State and local governments. The Three branches

• Federal government of the United States

  The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States. [...] In casual conversation or writing, the term "Federal Government" is often used, and the term "U.S. Government" is sometimes used. The terms "Federal" and "National" in government agency or program names generally indicate affiliation with the federal government; for instance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Park Service. Because the seat of government is in Washington, D.C., "Washington" is sometimes used as a metonym for the [...] The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Powers of these three branches are defined and vested by the U.S. Constitution, which has been in continuous effect since March 4, 1789. The powers and duties of these branches are further defined by Acts of Congress, including the creation of executive departments and courts subordinate to the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Our Government | The White House

  The Federal Government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the Federal courts, respectively. [...] Image 2: United States Capitol as seen during the day from a low angle Our Government The U.S. Federal Government is composed of three distinct branches 1. Home 2. About The White House Navigate this Section Our Government The Legislative Branch The Executive Branch The Judicial Branch Elections and Voting State and Local Government The Constitution [...] Under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all powers not granted to the Federal Government are reserved for the States and the people. All State Governments are modeled after the Federal Government and consist of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The U.S. Constitution mandates that all states uphold a “republican form” of government, although the three-branch structure is not required. Learn more about State & Local Government Image 3

• Federal government structure

  Image 6: Presidential Transition Directory Federal government structure The federal government is a large and complex organization. To help better understand its structure and key leadership positions, please start with the following resources: United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions (“The Plum Book”) [...] Published daily, the Federal Register is the official journal of the federal government. It contains all federal government agency rules, proposed rules and public notices. Government Organizational Chart A visual representation of the federal government agency structure. Print PagePrint this pageEmail Page Last updated: Sep 2, 2025 Top Image 7: glossaryGlossary Explore this section [...] The Manual provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; as well as boards, commissions, and committees. Federal Register

• Branches of the U.S. Government. How do they work?

  The legislative branch drafts proposed laws, confirms or rejects presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court, and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress. American citizens have the right to vote for Senators and Representatives through free, confidential ballots. [...] The president can veto legislation created by Congress and nominates heads of federal agencies. Congress confirms or rejects the president’s nominees and can remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances. The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. This ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is called the system of checks and balances. [...] Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate) Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies) Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts). Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches: