Map the government →
Explore three branches and the differences between federal, state, and local government.
Understand the government.
One office at a time.
Start with the structure. Follow the links to learn what each office does, who it represents, and how someone gets the job.
Plain-language explanations. Official sources. No party endorsements.
Upcoming midterms
The 2026 midterms are November 3.
435 voting House seats · 35 Senate elections · 5 delegate offices · 39 governorships.
See the races at stake →Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Congress & governor election guideSee how the pieces fit.
Start with a picture, then explore the explanation behind it.
See the seats →
One dot, one Senate seat. 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and 2 Independents.
Snapshot: 2026-10-19. A seat count does not predict a vote.
Compare the House diagram →Follow a decision →
See how an ordinary bill moves between branches, then try the vote calculator.
Explore majorities, vetoes and the steps in between.
Three branches. Different responsibilities.
Start anywhere
01 / Legislative
Congress
Makes federal laws and controls federal spending.
- How Congress fits together →
- U.S. Senate →100 seats · 2 per state · 6-year terms
- U.S. House →435 voting seats · 2-year terms
- Congress by state →Find your state’s senators and representatives
02 / Executive
President & agencies
Carries out federal laws and administers federal programs.
- President →4-year term · Electoral College
- Vice president →Elected with the president
- Cabinet & federal agencies →Learn where appointed roles fit
03 / Judicial
Federal courts
Resolve cases involving federal law and the Constitution.
- Supreme Court →
- Courts of appeals →
- District courts →
- How federal judges are chosen →Appointment, rather than public election
Every state. Every congressional seat.
Explore 565 federal officeholders, current congressional positions, executive leadership, Supreme Court membership, committees, and selected public records.
A note from the creatorMatt Owen · mowenranger.com
Why I created Government Explained
Our government is complex. Information is everywhere, but finding it in one place—and making sense of how it fits together—is difficult. Comparing candidates and their positions is difficult, too.
I created Government Explained as a place to learn, starting with no assumed knowledge. My goal is to help us understand the structure, then the process, then the policies, and finally the people. With that foundation, perhaps we can all make more informed decisions.
An independent, bipartisan educational site for learning and research. No political affiliation. No party or candidate endorsements.
Read the purpose behind the project →A good first route · about 5 minutes
Follow one office all the way down.
Explore the Senate, learn the senator’s job, and then choose a state to see its seats and current officeholders.
When are elections?
Two, four, and six years all mean different things. Compare terms and election cycles in one place.
Explore the election calendar →Ready to participate?
Use official resources to register, check your registration, and find your sample ballot.
Find voting resources →This edition covers federal offices and selected public records across all 50 states, plus D.C. and territorial House offices. Governors are the first state and territorial executive offices in the directory. Other state and local offices remain future additions.
- Branches of the U.S. government · USAGov
- The House explained · U.S. House of Representatives
- The U.S. Senate · U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
- The Electoral College · USAGov
- Types of federal judges · U.S. Courts
Reviewed October 19, 2026. How this guide is researched.