The political framework of the United States

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025) - Republican Party
Vice President: James David VANCE (since 20 January 2025) - Republican Party

Next Election Dates

Presidential: November 2028
House of Representatives: November 2026
Senate: November 2026

Current Political Context

Internally, the year 2024 was characterized by the Presidential election. In a historic move, President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race on July 21, 2024. Following Biden's exit, Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, while former President Donald Trump won the race as the Republican’s candidate, with JD Vance as running mate. Donald Trump was elected president in November after winning the electoral college and the popular vote. Republicans also performed well in congressional elections, giving the GOP a political trifecta that includes control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. With a focus on reviving the American manufacturing and energy sectors, the new Trump administration, which took office in 2025, is anticipated to prioritize boosting economic development through additional tax cuts and deregulation. With ongoing attempts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and restrict illegal immigration, policies are likely to remain stringent. Regarding national security, it is expected that the administration will place a higher priority on defence spending and pursue a more assertive foreign policy, especially with regard to China and Iran.
Concerning foreign and defence policy matters, the United States continued its strong support for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. The U.S. provided significant military aid, including advanced weaponry, training, and intelligence-sharing, alongside humanitarian assistance. President Trump, despite his initial calls for negotiation, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s defence and called for a negotiation with Vladimir Putin to end the conflict. Together with bipartisan congressional support, the Biden administration stressed Israel's right to self-defence in the context of the Israel-Hamas war while urging efforts to save civilian lives and find a lasting settlement.
Finally, U.S.-China ties have been tight over the past year due to persistent disputes over trade, technology, and geopolitical influence. Tensions between the two countries increased when former President Donald Trump announced plans to increase tariffs on Chinese goods in an effort to address trade imbalances.

Main Political Parties

Two political parties dominate U.S. politics:

- The Democratic Party: socially progressive, favours government intervention to regulate and balance the market economy.
- The Republican Party (also known as the Grand Old Party, GOP): socially conservative, supports free-market capitalism and emphasises national defence.

In addition to the two major parties, there are several other political parties. These include the Reform Party, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and the Constitution Party, among others, such as the Natural Law Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Working Class Party, and the Working Families Party.

Executive Power

The President is the Chief of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Head of Government. The President is elected by an Electoral College, with electors chosen by voters in each state, to serve a four-year term. These powers are checked by the U.S. Congress, which has legislative authority and oversight responsibilities. The Cabinet is appointed by the President and subject to approval by the Senate.

Legislative Power

The United States has a bicameral legislature. Congress consists of two chambers: the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). The Senate has the power to confirm or reject presidential appointments, such as cabinet members and federal judges, and to ratify treaties. It is composed of 100 senators. The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills, which may be amended or rejected by the Senate. It is composed of 435 members. The President has the power to veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

44/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

2/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House