James Wilson is a professor of political science at the University of California. In 1977, his work received a special award from the American Political Science Association. The book reveals the mechanism of functioning of the US federal power system, discusses the formation and development of American political culture. The main points related to the separation of powers, the activities of the two-party system in the country, the implementation of personal and public guarantees and freedoms are analyzed. Issues such as the role of legal scholars in modern society, the importance of opinion polls, constitutional guarantees of the individual and responsibility for violating laws, the interests of the bureaucracy and the interests of citizens are also covered. The book is designed for both specialists and a wide readership.