The United States Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic. This means that power is divided between a central government (federal government) and individual state governments, with a system of checks and balances to ensure a distribution of power. It is a democratic system because the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. Citizens have the right to participate in the political process through elections and other means. It is a republic because it operates on the principle of representative government, where elected officials represent the interests of the people.