| | The United States government is comprised of three branches, the executive, legislative and judicial. The legislative branch is bicameral with a House of Representatives and Senate drafting, proposing and creating laws. The President is the head of the executive branch and is charged with enforcing the law and defending the nation. The Supreme Court is the final authority in the judicial branch and is charged with enterpreting the law and the constitution.
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| The United States of America, known as the United States, the US, the USA, America or informally as just “the States” is a large country in central North America. The US is made up of fifty individual States along with several districts, territories and possessions. Washington DC is the capital and the most populous city is New York City.
The United States was founded as a confederation of rebel British colonies in 1776. From this beginning, the US has grown into the third largest country in size (Russia and Canada are larger) and third in population (China and India are more populous.) Three of the most traumatic events in America’s past are the Civil War (1861-1865), the Great Depression (1929-1939), and the 9/11 terrorist attacks (9/11/2001).
The US is a constitution-based federal republic incorporating elements of representative democracy. Individual state governments have their own constitutions and laws, however federal law takes precedence. The American economy is widely regarded as the world’s largest with a gross domestic product of 10.99 trillion US dollars. |
| The US has a varied geography including high mountains, vast plains, deserts, tropical islands, artic tundra, coastal marshes, sand beaches, huge freshwater lakes and wide rivers.
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| On July 4, 1776 representatives from thirteen British colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring their independence from Great Britain and sparking the American Revolution. This group of Colonies formed the United States of America.
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| | Country | Surface Area: 3,537,441 square miles
Population: 293,027,571 (July 2004 est.)
Located in: North America
Capital City: Washington, DC
Head of State: George W. Bush
Independent since: 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
Currency: US dollar (USD)
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