The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of
50 states. Each of which has its own goverment („state
goverment“). In some ways the United States is like 50 small
countries. Each state has its own governor, its own police and
its own laws. The present constitution was proclaimed in 1787 in
Philadelphia, the President is the head of the whole country and
the goverment and „commandering chief“ of the armed forces. He
makes the most important decisions and chooses the ministers, the
members of his cabinet. But the President cannot do just what he
wants. The Congress must agree first. Americans choose a new
president every four years. The residence of the President is the
White House in Washington, the Capital city. The goverment of the
whole country (the Federal goverment) works from Washington, this
is where the Congress is based. The Capitol is the seat of the US
Congress. Congress is the American parliament which consists of 2