USCIS Civics · Question 1 of 128
What is the form of government of the United States?
Republic
Also accepted: Constitution-based federal republic · Representative democracy
In plain English
The United States is a republic. It is also called a constitution-based federal republic or a representative democracy. In a republic, the people hold the power. The people do not make every law themselves. Instead, they vote for representatives. The representatives make laws for the people. The Constitution sets the rules for this government. The United States is a republic — a representative democracy.

