What type of government does the United States have?

The government of the United States is formally known as a 'presidential republic,' or 'presidential system.' Its defining characteristic is an elected president who serves as the country's head of state and head of government.

Notably in this system, the president heads an executive branch of government that is distinct from the legislative branch. This is in contrast to a Parliamentary Democracy, in which the country's head of government is part of, and comes to power through, the legislature.