In the American system, a federal union is ultimately based upon national supremacy but is also a political arrangement that reserves powers to the states. The number elected by each state depends on the state's population. The number of independent voters has increased substantially in recent decades, as electoral allegiance to the two major parties has waned among Americans. For example, nonpartisan elections are frequently employed in choosing local and state judges. In political terms, an election that is essentially a contest between the candidates of rival parties.
Political parties exist at the local, state and national levels of government.
Under the direction of the president, the secretary exercises authority, direction and control over the Department of Defense. In that address, the president expresses his philosophy relative to the governance of the nation and sets forth the most pressing and important matters facing the nation. Note that in political life, it is difficult to be totally objective, since politics involves the selection of choices that reflect personal values and ideologies. When the president vetoes a bill, he sends it back to the house of origin along with a message stating his objections. A two-thirds override vote by the members present in both the House and Senate is needed for a vetoed bill to become a law in spite of the presidential objection.