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About the USA
 

The United States of America (commonly called the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic consisting of 50 states and Washington D.C.,  a federal district under the authority of the U.S. Congress.

Washington D.C. is represented in Congress by an elected, non-voting Delegate to the House of Representatives. Residents have been able to vote in presidential elections since 1961.

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth associated with the United States. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Puerto Ricans do not vote in U.S. Presidential elections, but they do elect a non-voting commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. Virgin Islands — St. John, St. Croix, and St. Thomas is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Indigenous inhabitants are U.S. citizens, but do not vote in U.S. Presidential elections.

Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States. Self-governing with locally elected governor and legislature.

American Samoa is a unincorporated territory of the United States. Administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Guam is a unincorporated territory of the United States. Administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Inhabitants are U.S. citizens, but do not vote in U.S. Presidential elections.

Other Dependent Areas of the United States: Baker Island - Howland Island - Jarvis Island - Johnston Atoll - Kingman Reef - Midway Islands - Navassa Island - Palmyra Atoll - Wake Island.

The 50 States of the United States

All states have official homepages, that provide general information as well as tourist information and information about the state government. Below is a list of all the states (also with links to the homepages).

  1. Alabama (AL)
  2. Alaska (AK)
  3. Arizona (AZ)
  4. Arkansas (AR) 
  5. California (CA) 
  6. Colorado (CO) 
  7. Connecticut (CT) 
  8. Delaware (DE)
  9. Florida (FL)
  10. Georgia (GA) 
  11. Hawaii (HI) 
  12. Idaho (ID)
  13. Illinois (IL)
  14. Indiana (IN) 
  15. Iowa (IA) 
  16. Kansas (KS) 
  17. Kentucky (KY) 
  18. Louisisana (LA) 
  19. Maine (ME) 
  20. Maryland (MD) 
  21. Massachussetts (MA)
  22. Michigan (MI) 
  23. Minnesota (MN) 
  24. Mississippi (MS) 
  25. Missouri (MO) 
  26. Montana (MT) 
  27. Nebraska (NE) 
  28. Nevada (NV) 
  29. New Hampshire (NH) 
  30. New Jersey (NJ)
  31. New Mexico (NM) 
  32. New York (NY) 
  33. North Carolina (NC) 
  34. North Dakota (ND)
  35. Ohio (OH) 
  36. Oklahoma (OK) 
  37. Oregon (OR) 
  38. Pennsylvania (PA) 
  39. Rhode Island (RI) 
  40. South Carolina (SC) 
  41. South Dakota (SD) 
  42. Tennessee (TN) 
  43. Texas (TX) 
  44. Utah (UT)
  45. Vermont (VT) 
  46. Virginia (VA) 
  47. Washington (WA) 
  48. West Virginia (WV) 
  49. Wisconsin (WI) 
  50. Wyoming (WY)

You Asked

  • You Asked Why Do Americans Adopt Children from Abroad? (photo America.gov)

Holidays

  • Fireworks on Fourth of July over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. (photo IIP)
    Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A.
    This book discusses the ten federally-recognized holidays in the United States, as well as many celebratory days such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day that are commonly celebrated.