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The United States government is comprised of three branches, the executive, legislative and judicial. The legislative branch is bicameral with a House of Representative and Senate drafting, proposing and creating laws. The President is the head of the executive branch and is charged with enforcing the law and defending the nation. The president and the vice-president are elected every four years in a general election. The Supreme Court is the final authority in the judicial branch. There are nine Justices who sit on the Supreme Court, they are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Each is appointed for life. Seats on the Supreme Court only become available when a Justice retires or dies.
Since the civil war, American politics has been largely dominated by two parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Republican Party is more conservative and the Democratic Party more liberal. Both parties have diverse support from a wide range of social and economic forces. Both parties a primarily funded by business interests.
The United States is a member of NATO, OAS, the United Nations and is a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations. The US has nuclear weapons.
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