Title: Federal government of the United States - Wikipedia
Headings: Federal government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
U.S. Federal Government
Contents
Naming
History
Legislative branch
Makeup of Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
Different powers
Impeachment of federal officers
Congressional procedures
Powers of Congress
Congressional oversight
Executive branch
President
Executive powers and duties
Election, succession, and term limits
Veto power, impeachment, and other issues
Vice president
Cabinet, executive departments, and agencies
Judicial branch
Overview of the federal judiciary
Relationships between state and federal courts
Budget
Elections and voting
State, tribal, and local governments
See also
President
Courts
Law
Agencies
States and territories
Works and websites
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links

Content: Because the seat of government is in Washington, D.C., "Washington" is commonly used as a metonym for the federal government. History
See also: History of the United States Government
The United States government is based on the principles of federalism and republicanism, in which power is shared between the federal government and state governments. The interpretation and execution of these principles, including what powers the federal government should have and how those powers can be exercised, have been debated ever since the adoption of the Constitution. Some make a case for expansive federal powers while others argue for a more limited role for the central government in relation to individuals, the states, or other recognized entities. Since the American Civil War, the powers of the federal government have generally expanded greatly, although there have been periods since that time of legislative branch dominance (e.g., the decades immediately following the Civil War) or when states' rights proponents have succeeded in limiting federal power through legislative action, executive prerogative or by a constitutional interpretation by the courts. One of the theoretical pillars of the U.S. Constitution is the idea of " checks and balances " among the powers and responsibilities of the three branches of American government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. For example, while the legislative branch ( Congress) has the power to create law, the executive branch under the president can veto any legislation—an act which, in turn, can be overridden by Congress. The president nominates judges to the nation's highest judiciary authority, the Supreme Court, but those nominees must be approved by Congress.