text: how does the u.s. political system work?   that question is a bit vague.  the federal government operates under a system of checks and balances, by which the judicial branch (court system), legsilative branch (senate and house of representatives) and executive branch (president) create and implement laws, all the while theoretically assuring that no one branch gets too much power at any time.  for more information, visit:  http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html