Final answer:
The kinship system practiced in the United States is called the lineal pattern, which uses bilateral descent to trace family relations through both parents and emphasizes the nuclear family.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of kinship system practiced in the United States is known as the lineal pattern. In a lineal kinship system, family connections are traced through both the mother's and father's sides, a method referred to as bilateral descent. This system highlights the nuclear family and considers both paternal and maternal ancestors as part of one's family. In the United States, the nuclear family, which includes the individual, their parents, and their children, is typically given more prominence in matters of rights and responsibilities than the extended family.
Kinship systems can be complex and diverse across different cultures, with structures such as bifurcate merging, generational, and lineal kinship, each delineating family relationships and societal roles differently. The lineal system is largely associated with North American and European societies and represents a nuclear family model with limited influence across other social institutions.