Read the text and match each paragraph with appropriate heading.
___The word republic is derived from the Latin res publica, or "public thing".A republican form of government is a type of government in which the citizens of a country have an active role in the affairs of the government, and the government is not headed by a hereditary ruler such as a king. Historically republics have not always been democratic in character, however. For example, the ancient Republic of Venice was ruled by an aristocratic elite.
This type of government takes its name and inspiration from the Roman Republic, which actually involved the input of only a very small number of citizens. Many people in the West idealize Greek and Roman culture, so it is perhaps not surprising that the republican form of government has become so popular. Fans of this form of government argue that when well run, a republic truly represents the will of its people, and it can be easily changed if citizens desire changes.
___There are lots of different types of republics. Some are governed by a constitution, for example, in which case they are known as constitutional republics; these governments are often headed by a President, and they may include branches of government which oversee legislation and judiciary matters. Others are collectives of numerous states, as in the case of the United States, and these are known as federal republics. Parliamentary republics have a separate head of state and a head of government who share powers with each other and with a parliament, while Islamic republics are run in accordance with Islamic law.
___The strength of the republican form of government relies on the people involved. In some countries, citizens are extremely active in their governments, working to reform things they dislike, participating in elections, and holding officials accountable for their actions. In other nations, people are not as active, either out of a lack of will or understanding or because the officials in the government keep them in a state of fear or confusion. The “people's republics” in some Asian countries are one example of this sort of republican government, which is in theory run for and by the people but is actually run by a small and elite group.
___In the U.S. historical tradition, the belief in republicanism shaped the U.S. Revolution and Constitution. Before the revolution, leaders developed many political theories to justify independence from Great Britain. Thomas Paine, in his book Common Sense (1776), called for a representative government for the colonies and for a written constitution. Paine rejected the legitimacy of the monarchy to have a part in government. This attack on the king was echoed the following year in the Declaration of Independence, where Thomas Jefferson proposed that colonists reject the monarchy and become republican citizens. The government was formed in 1789, making the United States one of the world's first, if not the first, modern national constitutional republic.
___The United States government is based on the principle of federalism, in which power is shared between the federal government and state governments. The legislative power of the USA is vested in the Congress of the USA. The Congress was created by Article I of the Constitution, adopted in 1787. It consists of two chambers — the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is made up of 100 members (2 from each state) elected for a term of 4 years. One third of the Senate is elected every 2 years. To be elected a Senator, a person must be at least 30 years old, and have been a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years. The House of Representatives comprises representatives from each state, elected for a two-year term. The number of representatives from each state depends on its population, but each state is represented. To be elected a representative, a person must be at least 25 years old, and have been a citizen of the USA for at least 7 years. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the House. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing commissions in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives. The Congress assembles at least once a year.
____The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President's term of office is four years, together with the Vice-President, elected for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads often executive departments; Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense and others.
____The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.
The USA is a federal union, and the President is the head of the federal government, which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and state government headed by the congress and managing their local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA. The US national flag — stars and stripes — is red, white and blue. Thirteen stripes represent the original 13 states the 50 stars represent the current number of states in the USA.