In order to prevent any one branch of government from becoming more powerful than the other two, the Constitution has established a system of "checks and balances." For instance, when Congress passes a bill, it must have the signature of the president in order to become law. But even if the president rejects the bill, Congress can override his veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate. The Supreme Court, as final arbiter of the Constitution, can overturn legislative acts or executive orders if it finds them to be unconstitutional. In this way, the powers of government are balanced, or held in check.

为避免任何一个部门的权力大过其它两个部门，宪法设立了一套「制衡」制度。例如，当国会通过一个法案，它必须由总统签署后才能成为法律。但即使总统否决了这个法案，国会可以透过参、众两院三分之二的票数同意而不顾他的否决。身为宪法最后仲裁者的最高法院，如果发现法令或是行政命令违宪，可以将其推翻。如此，政府的权力就可以被制衡了。

In many countries, power rests with a strong centralized government. In contrast, under the American federal system, the national government shares its power with the state governments. The federal government possesses only those powers clearly delineated in the Constitution; all remaining powers are reserved for the states.

在许多国家，权力集中于中央政府。相对之下，在美国联邦制度下，国家政府与州政府分摊权力。联邦政府只拥有宪法中明确陈述的权力，其它所有的权力都保留在州政府。

The English political theorist Thomas Paine wrote in 1776, "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." The American government, like every government, has its share of thorny problems. An increasing number of governmental agencies and government workers has created the problem of bureaucracy, where a mountain of paperwork stifles efficiency. Lobbyists make appeals to Congress on behalf of special interest groups. As a result, those with the biggest lobby--and the most money--tend to have the loudest voice in Washington.

英国政治理论家汤玛士．潘尼在一七七六年写道：「政府，即使在在其最好的状态，也不过是一个无可避免的恶魔；在它最坏的状态，就是一个无法忍受的恶魔。」美国政府就像每一个政府一样，也有棘手的问题。不断增加的政府机构及公务员造成了官僚政治的问题，使堆积如山的纸上作业扼杀了效率。游说者为特定利益团体向国会上诉请愿。结果，说官人数最多，即钱最多的团体，在华盛顿就有最大的声音。

Americans harbor mixed feelings about their own government. They recognize the need for it, but they remain suspicious of it. To some Americans, the government is Big Brother, an oppressive organization which delights in taxing its people and meddling in their affairs. To others, the government is a rich Uncle Sam who provides for the poor and protects his people from bullies at home and abroad. But no matter how they view their government, Americans wouldn't trade it for any other on the face of the earth.

美国人对他们自己的政府怀有复杂的情感。他们知道它存在必要性，但还是对它存疑。对某些美国人来说，政府是一个压抑人民的组织，以向人民征税为乐，并干预人民隐私的「老大哥」。对其他人来说，政府是一个富有的山姆叔叔，它供养穷人并保护它的人民在国内外免受欺凌。不管他们怎样看待他们的政府，美国人都不会将它与地球上任何一个政府交换的.