Part 4. State and Local Governments

Each state has its own constitution. Like the national government, state governments are divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches. In each state there are state senators and representatives, state court systems, and, like the President of the country, a governor of the state.

Below the state level of government, there are country and city governments.

QUESTIONS.

1. How many constitutions are there in the United States? Explain.

2. How are state and local governments composed?

3. Who is the head of the executive branch of a state government?

Part 5. Two-Party System.

The United States has two main political parties – the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. There are other, much smaller, parties, which play little, if any, role. There are no clear differences between the Republican and Democratic parties. In general, the Republicans tend to be more conservative and to have more support among the upper classes, while the Democrat tend to be more liberal and to have more support among the working class and the poor.

QUESTIONS.

1. How many political parties are there in the United States of America? What are they called?

2. What is the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats?