What type of government is established in the United States?

The United States is established as a democratic republic, which combines elements of democracy and republicanism. This means that the government is elected by the people and is accountable to them, with elected representatives making decisions on their behalf. In this system, power resides in the hands of the citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders and participate in the law-making process, thereby maintaining the principles of popular sovereignty and limited government.

A democratic republic differs from a direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on laws and policies. Instead, the U.S. system relies on representatives chosen through elections to make those decisions. This structure helps protect minority rights and ensures that governance is conducted through established laws and a constitution that outlines individual rights and limits governmental power.

In contrast, a monarchy would have a king or queen with sovereign powers, while a dictatorship concentrates power in a single leader or small group with little to no public input. An oligarchy involves a few individuals or groups holding power, typically with an emphasis on wealth or social status. Therefore, the system in the United States is best characterized as a democratic republic, where the authority of the government is derived from the consent of the governed.