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Discovering the U.S.
Government
The U.S. is governed by a democratic republic, meaning the government representatives are
elected by majority rule. The Federal Government is made up of three branches: executive,
legislative, and judicial. The President is in the Executive branch, the two houses of congress
(Senate and House of Representatives) are in the Legislative branch, and the court system is
in the Judicial branch. The President is elected every four years, with a maximum of a two-term
presidency. The main political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Each
of the 50 states has its own government with the right to make certain decisions and state laws.
Economy
The U.S. has a market economy where producers and consumers determine the kinds of
goods and services sold in the market. The U.S. does not have a pure market economy, and
the government plays a role when necessary. The economy is still recovering from the 2008
downfall of the stock market. Consumer spending is increasing, although many Americans are
still cautious with major investments.
Weather
As the U.S. covers 3.8 million square miles, the weather can vary greatly across the country.
Summer is typically June to August, fall is September to November, winter is December to
February, and spring is from March to May.
Severe Weather Situations
Severe weather conditions
may occur on occasion
depending on location, so it is
important to be prepared for
your family and your home.
The National Weather Service
(NWS) is the primary source of
weather data, forecasts, and
warnings for the U.S. television
weathercasters and private
meteorology companies
prepare forecasts using this
information.
Communities around the U.S. have siren systems to alert area residents of possible severe
weather or other emergencies. Once a month, your community may perform "tests" of these
systems which typically involves broadcasting the siren on a designated day of the week at a
certain time.
Average State Temperatures