Who represents you?

★ How your government is built ★

Every American is represented at three levels at once. Here is who serves you at each, and how often they face the voters.

1. 1

   Federal

   Washington, D.C.

   President and Vice President

   Elected together for four-year terms; a president may be elected twice (22nd Amendment).

   U.S. Senate

   100 senators, two per state, serving six-year terms. About a third are elected every two years.

   U.S. House

   435 voting members, with seats divided among the states by population after each census. Every seat is elected every two years.

   From the U.S. Constitution, Articles I and II, at the National Archives

2. 2

   State

   Your state capitol

   Governor

   Elected for four-year terms in 48 states; New Hampshire and Vermont elect governors every two years.

   State legislature

   Every state has a senate and a house, except Nebraska, whose legislature has one chamber.

   Statewide officers

   Such as lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state; the list varies by state.

   From the 10th Amendment: powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states

3. 3

   Local

   Your county and city

   County government

   Commissioners or supervisors, sheriffs, clerks, and prosecutors, depending on the state.

   City or town

   A mayor, a council, or both; some places use a city manager instead.

   School and special districts

   Elected boards for schools, parks, water, and more.

   Set by each state's constitution and laws