SUMMARY
The Government of United States of America operates within a constitutional federal republic under the U.S. constitution that was ratified in 1788. It is led by the President, who serves a four year term for a maximum of two terms. Since the latter 1800s, the President has always been a member of the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. The former is considered more liberal compared to the latter, which is seen as more conservative but both are relatively centrist in ideology, tending to differ on single issues whilst both parties contain members that are seen internally as more left or right wing.
From 1933, the government was led by Democratic Party presidents for twenty years (Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933 – 1945; Harry S. Truman, 1945 – 1953). Following this, Republican Party member, Dwight D. Eisenhower served as President for two terms (1953 – 1961) until the Democratic Party returned to leadership during the 1960s (John F. Kennedy, 1961 – 1963; Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963 – 1969). For most of the 1970s and 1980s, the Republic Party was in power (Richard M. Nixon, 1969 – 1974; Gerald R. Ford, 1974 – 1977; Ronald Reagan, 1981 – 1989; George Bush, 1989 – 1993), except for one term under the Democratic Party with Jimmy Carter as President (1977 – 1981). Since 1993, the presidency has alternated between the Democratic and Republican Parties every two consecutive terms with Democrat Bill Clinton (1993 – 2001) being followed by Republican George W. Bush (2001 – 2009), who was succeeded by Democrat Barack Obama (2009 – 2017). Republican Donald Trump served as President 2017 - 2021.
As of 2024, Democrat Joe Biden serves as President of the United States of America.
In 1989, the Government of United States of America reached its highest number of troops active in its armed forces with 2 240 000. This figure steadily decreased to almost half the amount in 2001, when the number of troops maintained reached 1 420 700. Since then, this total has fluctuated relatively slightly by 150 000.
As of 2024, the Government of United States of America had 1 326 000 troops active in its armed forces.
The following actors provided support to the government during armed conflicts:
The Government of United States of America was allied with the Government of the United Kingdom during an armed conflict to remove the Taleban regime of the Government of Afghanistan in 2001 (see Government of Afghanistan - Government of United Kingdom, Government of United States of America.
Both the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Australia formed a coalition with the US government, called “the Free and the Willing” to overthrow the Government of Iraq led by the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003 (see Government of Australia, Government of United Kingdom, Government of United States of America - Government of Iraq).
During its untraditional case of internal armed conflict with Al-Qaida, which began after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the government received support from the following secondary warring parties: Government of Afghanistan, Government of Australia, Government of Belgium, Government of Canada, Government of Czech Republic, Government of Denmark, Government of Estonia, Government of France, Government of Germany, Government of Greece, Government of Italy, Government of Japan, Government of Jordan, Government of Kuwait, Government of Lithuania, Government of Netherlands, Government of New Zealand, Government of Norway, Government of Pakistan, Government of Poland, Government of Portugal, Government of Romania, Government of Saudi Arabia, Government of Slovakia, Government of Spain, Government of Turkey and Government of United Kingdom.
The Government of United Kingdom operates a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; King Charles III has been head of state since 2022 but the monarch has limited powers in practice. The state is governed by the Prime Minister, who has been a member of the more left-leaning Labour party or more right-leaning Conservative party since the end of the Second World War in 1945.
From 1945 to 1951, the prime minister was Labour party leader Clement Attlee. He was superseded by a succession of Conservative prime ministers (Winston Churchill, 1951 – 55; Sir Anthony Eden, 1955 – 57; Harold Macmillan, 1957 – 63; Sir Alec Douglas-Home, 1963 – 64) before Labour leader Harold Wilson took over in 1964. Conservative leader Edward Heath became prime minister for one term between 1970 and 1974, before the Labour party returned to power (Harold Wilson, 1974 – 76; James Callaghan, 1976 – 79). Eighteen years of Conservative party leadership followed under Margaret Thatcher (1979 – 90) and John Major (1990 – 97). Subsequently, thirteen years of Labour party leadership followed under Tony Blair (1997 – 2007) and Gordon Brown (2007 – 10). From 2010, the Conservative party led the government (David Cameron, 2010 – 16; Theresa May, 2016-2019; Boris Johnson 2019-2022; Liz Truss, 2022; Rishi Sunak, 2022-2024).
As of 2024, Keir Starmer became Prime Minister bringing the Labor party back in the governing seat.
The United Kingdom has an armed military force comprised of an army, navy and air force. In 1985, it had 348 000 active military personnel, which decreased relatively steadily to 152 350 in 2015.
The following actors provided support to the government during armed conflicts:
During the crisis in the Suez Canal (Egypt) in 1956, the Government was allied with France and Israel against the Government of Egypt.
After the failure of the negotiation attempts of US Secretary of State Alexander Haig in 1982, the USA stated its support for the UK in its conflict with the Government of Argentina over the Maldives/Falkland islands, promising military supplies. The support given to the UK by the US was strongly criticized by, and led to deteriorated relations with, many Latin American countries.
Between 1975 and 1998, the Government of the United Kingdom did not receive any formal secondary support but so-called Loyalist paramilitaries (the Northern Irish hardline protestants loyal to the British state) also fought against the RIRA and PIRA (see conflict dyad Government of United Kingdom – PIRA and Government of United Kingdom – RIRA). Loyalist paramilitary groups included Red Hand Commando, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defense Association (UDA, also known as Ulster Freedom Fighters).
