American National Government: An Overview
Publication Date: May 2003
Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Author(s):
Research Area: Government
Type:
Abstract:
Power in American national government is decentralized, divided, dispersed, and limited. This distribution of power derives in part from the Constitution, through limitations imposed on the government, the system of checks and balances among the three branches, and independent bases of support and authority for each branch. This report, which examines these characteristics, will be updated as developments require.
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