On ramps Government — Foundations of American Government + 5 more topics

The American system of government isn't just a random collection of rules; it's built on specific ideas that developed over centuries. Many of these ideas came from the Enlightenment, a period when thinkers emphasized reason and individual rights.

Federalism is a system of government where power is divided by a constitution between a central (national) government and constituent political units (like states or provinces). In the U.S., this means power is shared and sometimes contested between Washington D.C. and the individual states.