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===Islami-Jamhuriya-e-America
:''For other meanings, see the disambiguation page for [[US (disambiguation)|US]], [[USA (disambiguation)|USA]] or [[United States (disambiguation)|United States]].''
{{Infobox Country| <!-- START INFOBOX -->
native_name = The United States of America|
common_name = the United States |
image_flag = Flag of the United States.svg |
image_coat = Great Seal of the US.png|20px |
national_motto = <br> Official ([[Latin]]): ''[[E pluribus unum]]'' (1789 to 1956)<br>(Translated: "Out of Many, One")<br>''[[In God We Trust]]'' (1956 to present) |
image_map = LocationUSA.png |
national_anthem = ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]'' |
official_languages = [[Languages in the United States|None at federal level]];<br> [[American English|English]] de facto |
capital = [[Washington, D.C.]] |latd=38|latm=53|latNS=N|longd=77|longm=02|longEW=W|
government_type = [[Federal republic]]|
leader_titles = &nbsp;• [[President of the United States|President]]<br>&nbsp;• [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] |
leader_names = [[George W. Bush]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) <br>[[Dick Cheney]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) |
largest_city = [[New York City]] |
area = 9,631,418 |
area_rank = 3rd|
area_magnitude = 1 E12|
percent_water = 4.87 |
<!-- population estimate from census bureau website http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html -->
population_estimate = 299,598,000|
population_estimate_year = 2006 |
population_estimate_rank = 3rd|
population_census = 281,421,906 |
population_census_year = 2000 |
population_density = 32<sup>1</sup> |
population_density_rank = 140th |
GDP_PPP_year = 2006 |
GDP_PPP = $13.1 Trillion |
GDP_PPP_rank = 1st |
GDP_PPP_per_capita = $39,496 |
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 3rd |
HDI_year=2003|
HDI=0.944|
HDI_rank=10th|
HDI_category=<font color="#009900">high</font>|
sovereignty_type = [[American Revolutionary War|Independence]] |
established_events = &nbsp;• Declared<br>&nbsp;• Recognized

[[United States Constitution|'''Constitution''']]<br>&nbsp;• Completed<br>&nbsp;• Ratified<br>&nbsp;• Effective|
established_dates = From [[Kingdom of Great Britain|the British]]<br> [[July 4]], [[1776]]<br>[[September 3]], [[1783]]

<br>[[September 17]], [[1787]]<br>[[May 23]], [[1788]]<br>[[March 4]], [[1789]]|
currency = [[United States dollar|Dollar]] ($) |
currency_code = USD |
country_code = USA |
time_zone = |
utc_offset = -5 to -10 |
time_zone_DST = |
utc_offset_DST = -4 to -10 |
cctld = [[.us]] [[.gov]] [[.edu]] [[.mil]] [[.um]] |
calling_code = 1 |
HDI = 0.944 |
HDI_rank = 10th |
footnotes= <sup>1</sup>In [[U.S. customary units]], the United States has an area of 3,718,711 mi² and a population density of 83/mi² |
}}
The '''United States of America''' is a [[constitution]]al [[federal]] [[republic]], situated primarily in [[North America]]. It comprises 50 [[U.S. state|states]] and one [[Washington, D.C.|federal district]], and has several [[United States territory|territories]] with differing degrees of affiliation. It is also referred to, with varying formality, as the '''United States''', the '''U.S.''', the '''U.S.A.''', the '''U.S. of A.''', '''America'''{{ref|America}}, the '''States''', or (poetically) '''[[Historical Columbia|Columbia]]'''.

Since the mid-20th century, following [[World War II]], the United States has emerged as a dominant [[Geopolitics|global]] influence in [[economics|economic]], [[Politics of the United States|political]], [[military]], [[science|scientific]], [[technology|technological]], and [[Culture of the United States|cultural]] affairs. Because of its influence, the U.S. is considered a [[superpower]] and, particularly after the [[Cold War]], a [[hyperpower]] by some.

The country celebrates its founding date as [[July 4]], [[1776]], when the Second [[Continental Congress]]—representing [[Thirteen Colonies|thirteen]] [[British Empire|British]] [[Colony|colonies]]—adopted the [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|Declaration of Independence]] that rejected British authority in favor of [[self-determination]].

The structure of the government was profoundly changed in 1789, when the states replaced the [[Articles of Confederation]] with the [[United States Constitution]]. The date on which each of the fifty states adopted the Constitution is typically regarded as the date that state "entered the Union" to become part of the United States.

==History==
{{main|History of the United States}}

===Prehistory===
American history began with the [[migration]] of people from [[Asia]] across the [[Bering land bridge]] [[Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas#Early_history|some time prior]] to 12,000 years ago, possibly following large animals that they hunted into the Americas. These [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] left evidence of their presence in [[petroglyph]]s, [[burial mound]]s, and other [[artifact (archaeology)|artifact]]s. It is estimated that 2&ndash;9 million people lived in the territory now occupied by the U.S. before that population was diminished by European contact and the foreign diseases it brought (although both the number of Native Americans originally on the continent and the number who did not survive European immigration are the subject of continued research and thus are open to debate). Some advanced societies were the [[Anasazi]] of the southwest, who inhabited [[Chaco Canyon]] (and built sandstone buildings with up to 5 floors), and the Woodland Indians, who built [[Cahokia]], located near present-day [[St. Louis]], a city with a population of 41,623 at its peak in AD 1200.
{{USHBS}}

===European settlement===
External visitors including [[Vinland|the Norse]] had arrived before, but it was not until after the discovery voyages of [[Christopher Columbus]] in the late 1400s and early 1500s that European nations began to explore the land in earnest and settle there permanently.

During the 1500s and 1600s, the Spanish settled parts of the present-day [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]] and [[Florida]]. The first successful English settlement was at [[Jamestown, Virginia]], in 1607. Within the next two decades, several Dutch settlements, including [[New Amsterdam]] (the predecessor to [[New York City]]), were established in what are now the states of [[New York]] and [[New Jersey]]. In 1637, [[Swedish colonization of the Americas|Sweden established a colony]] at [[Fort Christina]] (in what is now Delaware), but lost the settlement to the Dutch in 1655.

This was followed by extensive British settlement of the east coast. The British colonists remained relatively [[Benign_neglect|undisturbed]] by their home country until after the [[French and Indian War]] when the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] and its North American Colonies fought against [[France]] and its North American Colonies. The war resulted in [[France]] ceding [[Canada]] and the [[Great Lakes]] region to [[United Kingdom|Britain]], and [[Spain]] gaining Louisiana in compensation for its loss of [[Florida]] to [[United Kingdom|Britain]].

Later that year, the British government under [[George_III_of_the_United_Kingdom|George III]] issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763 that placed a boundary upon the westward expansion of the British North American colonies. The Proclamation's goal was to force colonists to negotiate with the Native Americans for the lawful purchase of the land and, therefore, to reduce the costly frontier warfare that had erupted over land conflicts.

To pay for the North American war a tax was imposed, as it was becoming increasingly difficult for the crown to pay for its military excursions and the defence of the American colonies from native uprisings. The colonists widely resented the taxes as they were denied representation in the [[British Parliament]]. Tensions between Britain and the colonists increased, and the thirteen colonies eventually rebelled against British rule.

===Nationhood===
[[Image:George-Washington.jpg|thumb|150px|left|First [[President of the United States]] under the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]], [[George Washington|George Washington (1789-1797)]].]]

In 1776, the 13 colonies [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|declared independence]] from Great Britain and formed the United States, the world's first constitutional and democratic [[federal republic]]. The [[American Revolutionary War]] followed (1775 to 1783).

Before the ratification of a national government, the United States existed as an informal alliance of independent individual colonies with their own laws and sovereignty, while the [[Second Continental Congress]] was given the nominal authority by the colonies to make decisions regarding the formation and funding of the [[Continental Army]] but not to levy taxes or make federal law.

The first united national political structure was a [[confederation]] proposed in 1777, and ratified in 1781 as the [[Articles of Confederation]]. After long [[Federalist papers|debate]], this was supplanted in 1789 by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]], which formed a more centralized [[federalism|federal]] government.

===Civil War===
From early colonial times, there was a shortage of labor, which encouraged [[unfree labor]], particularly [[indentured servitude]] and [[slavery]]. By the mid-19th century, a major division over the issue of [[states' rights]] and the expansion of slavery came to a head.

The northern states had become opposed to slavery, while the southern states saw it as necessary for the continued success of southern [[agriculture]] and wanted it expanded to newer territories in the West. Several federal laws were passed in an attempt to settle the dispute, including the [[Missouri Compromise]] and the [[Compromise of 1850]].

The dispute reached a crisis in 1861, when seven southern states seceded [[Confederate States of America#International Diplomacy and Legal Status|<small><sup>1</sup></small>]] from the Union and formed the [[Confederate States of America]], leading to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Soon after the war began, four more southern states seceded, and two states had both Union and Confederate governments.

During the war, President [[Abraham Lincoln]] issued the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], mandating the freedom of all slaves in states in rebellion. However, full emancipation did not take place until after the end of the war in 1865, the dissolution of the Confederacy, and the [[Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Thirteenth Amendment]] took effect. The Civil War effectively ended the question of a state's right to secede, and is widely accepted as a major turning point after which the federal government became more powerful than state governments.

===Expansion===
[[Image:Westward the Course of Empire.jpg|right|thumb|300px|American westward expansion is idealized in [[Emanuel Leutze]]'s famous painting ''Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way'' (1861). The title of the painting, from a 1726 poem by [[George Berkeley|Bishop Berkeley]], was a phrase often quoted in the era of [[Manifest Destiny]], expressing a widely held belief that civilization had steadily moved westward throughout history. [http://americanart.si.edu/t2go/1lw/1931.6.1.html (more)] ]]

During the 19th century, many new [[U.S. state|state]]s were added to the union as the nation expanded across the continent. [[Manifest Destiny]] was a philosophy that encouraged westward expansion in the United States: as the population of the Eastern states grew and as a steady increase of immigrants entered the country, settlers moved steadily westward across North America.

In the process, the U.S. displaced most American Indian nations. This displacement of American Indians continues to be a matter of contention in the U.S., with many tribes attempting to assert their original claims to various lands. In some areas, American Indian populations had been reduced by foreign diseases contracted through contact with European settlers, and US settlers acquired those emptied lands. In other instances, American Indians were removed from their traditional lands by force. Though some would say the U.S. was not a colonial power until it acquired territories in the [[Spanish-American War]], the dominion exercised over land in North America the United States claimed is essentially colonial.
{{see|United States territorial acquisitions|U.S. colonization outside North America}}

During this period, the nation also became an [[industrialisation|industrial power]] and a [[Technological_innovations_of_the_United_States|center for innovation and technological development]][[Image:National-atlas-territorial-acquisitions.png|right|thumb|350px|National Atlas map (circa 2005) depicting territorial acquisitions and dates of statehood.]]

===The 20th century===
The 20th century has sometimes been termed "the [[American Century]]" because of the nation's influence on the world. Its relative influence was especially great because Europe, which had been the center of greatest influence, was devastated during the world wars.

The U.S. fought in [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] on the side of the [[Allies]]. Between the wars, the most significant event was the [[Great Depression]] (1929 to 1939), which was compounded by [[Dust bowl|drought and dust]]. Like the rest of the developed world, the U.S. was pulled out of the great depression by its mobilization for World War II. The war left much of the developed world in ruins with the Americas largely spared. By 1950, more than half of the global economy (as measured in GNP) was located in the U.S.

During the [[Cold War]], the U.S. was a major player in the [[Korean War]] and [[Vietnam War]], and, along with the [[Soviet Union]], was considered one of the world's two "[[superpower]]s". This period coincided with a major economic expansion. With the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]] in the early 1990s, however, the U.S. emerged as the world's leading economic and military power.

During the 1990s, the United States became more involved in [[police action]]s and [[peacekeeping]], including actions in [[Kosovo]], [[Haiti]], [[Somalia]] and [[Liberia]], and the first [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]. After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] on the [[World Trade Center]] and [[the Pentagon]], the United States and other allied nations declared themselves involved in what has come to be called the "[[War on Terrorism]]," which has included military action in [[U.S. invasion of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]].

During the first decade of the twenty-first century, the United States has been involved in other military conflicts, notably the [[Iraq War]] and [[U.S. invasion of Afghanistan|Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan]].

==Geography and climate==

===Geography===
[[Image:USA-satellite.jpg|thumb|right|335px|A satellite composite image of the [[continental United States|contiguous United States]]. [[Deciduous]] vegetation and [[grassland]]s prevail in the east, transitioning to [[prairies]], [[boreal]] forests, and the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]] in the west, and [[desert]]s in the southwest. In the northeast, the coasts of the [[Great Lakes]] and [[Atlantic seaboard]] host much of the country's population.]]
{{main|Geography of the United States}}
The United States shares land borders with [[Canada]] (to the north) and [[Mexico]] (to the south), and [[Territorial waters|territorial water]] boundaries with Canada, [[Russia]], the [[Bahamas]], and numerous smaller nations. It is otherwise bounded by the [[Pacific Ocean]] and the [[Bering Sea]], in the west; the [[Arctic Ocean]], in the northernmost areas; and the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and the [[Caribbean Sea]], in the eastern and southeastern areas.

Forty-eight of the states are in the single region between Canada and Mexico; this group is referred to, with varying precision and formality, as the ''continental'' or ''contiguous'' ''United States'', sometimes abbreviated ''CONUS'', and as the ''[[Lower 48]]''. [[Alaska]], which is not included in the term ''contiguous United States'', is at the northwestern end of [[North America]], separated from the Lower 48 by Canada. The state of [[Hawaii]] is an [[archipelago]] in the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The capital city, [[Washington, District of Columbia]] is a federal district located on land donated by the state of [[Maryland]]. ([[Virginia]] also donated land, but it was returned in 1847.) The United States also has [[Political divisions of the United States#Territories of the United States|overseas territories]] with varying levels of independence and organization.

In total area (which includes inland water and land), only [[Russia]] and Canada are larger than the United States; if inland water is excluded, [[China]] ranks second, the U.S. ranks third, and Canada ranks fourth. The United States' total area is 3,718,711 [[square_mile|square miles]] (9,631,418 [[square kilometre|km²]]), of which land makes up 3,537,438 square miles (9,161,923 km²) and water makes up 181,273 square miles (469,495 km²).

The United States' landscape is one of the most varied among those of the world's nations: among its many features are temperate forestland and rolling hills, on the east coast; [[mangrove]], in [[Florida]]; the [[Great Plains]], in the center of the country; the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]–[[Missouri River|Missouri]] river system; the [[Great Lakes]], four of the five of which are shared with Canada; the [[Rocky Mountains]], west of the Great Plains; deserts and temperate coastal zones, west of the Rocky Mountains; and [[temperate rain forest]]s, in the Pacific northwest. [[Alaska]]'s [[tundra]], and the [[volcano|volcanic]], [[tropical]] islands of [[Hawaii]] add to the geographic diversity.
[[Image:Grand_Canyon_from_Moran_Point.jpeg|thumb|left|300px|The dramatic landscape of the American West: Grand Canyon from Moran Point]]

===Climate===
The climate varies along with the landscape, from tropical in [[Hawaii]] and southern [[Florida]] to [[tundra]] in [[Alaska]] and atop some of the highest mountains. Most of the North and East experience a temperate continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Most of the South experiences a subtropical humid climate with mild winters and long, hot, humid summers. Rainfall decreases markedly from the humid forests of the Eastern Great Plains to the semi-arid shortgrass prairies on the high plains abutting the [[Rocky Mountains]]. Arid [[desert]]s, including the [[Mojave desert|Mojave]], extend through the lowlands and valleys of the southwest, from westernmost Texas to California and northward throughout much of [[Nevada]]. Some parts of [[California]] have a [[Mediterranean climate]]. Rainforests line the windward mountains of the Pacific Northwest from [[Oregon]] to [[Alaska]].

==Government==
[[Image:Constitution.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]] is the supreme [[law]] of the United States.]]
{{main|Federal government of the United States|Politics of the United States|Law of the United States}}

===Republic and suffrage===
The United States is an example of a [[constitution]]al [[republic]], with a government composed of and operating through a set of limited powers imposed by its design and enumerated in the [[United States Constitution]]. The government has changed significantly over time, beginning as a republic in which voting was commonly restricted to white men who owned land, and direct elections were held only for the House of Representatives. Today, the United States is much more democratic, in that Senators are now directly elected by the citizens of their respective states. Originally, Senators and members of the electoral college were to be selected in a manner selected by the individual states. Under this original system, most Senators and electors were chosen by a majority vote of their state's legislature. Specifically, the nation operates as a [[presidential democracy]]. There are three levels of government: federal, state, and local. Officials of each of these levels are either elected by eligible voters via [[Secret ballot|secret ballot]] or appointed by other elected officials. Almost all electoral offices are decided in "[[first-past-the-post]]" elections, where a specific candidate who earns at least a [[plurality]] of the vote is elected to office, rather than a party being elected to a seat to which it may appoint an official. Americans enjoy almost [[universal suffrage]] from the age of 18 regardless of race, sex, or wealth. There are some limits, however: [[felony disenfranchisement|felons]] are disenfranchised and in some states former felons are likewise. Furthermore, the national representation of territories and the federal district of [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]] is [[District_of_Columbia_voting_rights|limited]]: residents of the District of Columbia are subject to federal laws and federal taxes but their only Congressional representative is a [[Delegate (United States Congress)|non-voting delegate]].

===Federal government===
The [[federal government of the United States|federal government]] is comprised of the [[legislature|Legislative]] Branch (led by [[Congress of the United States|Congress]]), the [[Executive (government)|Executive]] Branch (led by the [[President of the United States|President]]), and the [[Judiciary|Judicial]] Branch (led by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]). These three branches were designed to apply [[checks and balances]] on each other. The Constitution limits the powers of the federal government to defense, foreign affairs, the issuing and management of currency, the management of trade and relations between the states, and the protection of [[human rights]]. In addition to these explicitly stated powers, the federal government—with the assistance of the Supreme Court—has gradually extended these powers into such areas as [[welfare]] and education, on the basis of the "[[Necessary-and-proper clause|necessary and proper]]" and "Commerce" clauses of the Constitution.

====Legislative branch====
[[Image:Uscongress.gif|right|100px]]
The [[Congress of the United States]] is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is [[bicameralism|bicameral]], being comprised of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. The House of Representatives consists of 435 members, each of whom represents a [[congressional district]] and serves for a two-year term. House seats are [[United States Congressional apportionment|apportioned]] among the [[U.S. state|states]] by [[population]]; in contrast, each state has two Senators, regardless of population. There are a total of 100 senators, who serve six-year terms. The powers of Congress are limited to those enumerated in the Constitution; all other powers are reserved to the states and the [[We the people|people]]. The Constitution also includes the [[necessary-and-proper clause]], which grants Congress the power to "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers."

====Executive branch====
[[Image:USPresidentialSeal.jpg|right|100px]]
All executive power in the federal government is vested in the [[President of the United States]], although power is often delegated to his/her [[U.S._Cabinet|Cabinet]] members and advice sought from a staff. The President and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] are elected as 'running mates' for four-year terms by the [[U.S. Electoral College|Electoral College]], for which each state, as well as the [[District of Columbia]], is allocated a number of seats based on its representation (or ostensible representation, in the case of D.C.) in both houses of Congress.
{{see|U.S. Electoral College}} The relationship between the President and the Congress reflects that between the English monarchy and parliament at the time of the framing of the [[United States Constitution]]. [[US Congress|Congress]] can legislate to constrain the President's executive power, even with respect to his or her command of the armed forces; however, this power is used only very rarely—a notable example was the constraint placed on President [[Richard Nixon]]'s strategy of bombing [[Cambodia]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. The President cannot directly propose legislation, and must rely on supporters in Congress to promote his or her legislative agenda. The President's signature is required to turn congressional bills into law; in this respect, the President has the power—only occasionally used—to veto congressional legislation. Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. The ultimate power of Congress over the President is that of [[impeachment]] or removal of the elected President through a House vote, a Senate trial, and a Senate vote. The threat of using this power has had major political ramifications in the cases of Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]], [[Richard Nixon]], and [[Bill Clinton]].

The President makes around 2,000 executive appointments, including members of the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] and ambassadors, which must be approved by the Senate; the President can also issue [[executive order]]s and [[pardon]]s, and has other Constitutional duties, among them the requirement to give a [[State of the Union]] address to Congress from time to time. (The Constitution does not specify that the state of the union address be delivered in person; it can be in the form of a letter, as was the practice during most of the 19th century.) Although the President's constitutional role may appear to be constrained, in practice, the office carries enormous prestige that typically eclipses the power of Congress: the Presidency has justifiably been referred to as 'the most powerful office in the world'. The [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] is first in the [[United States presidential line of succession|line of succession]], and is the [[President of the Senate]] ''ex officio'', with the ability to cast a tie-breaking vote. The members of the President's [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] are responsible for administering the various departments of state, including the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], and the [[United States Department of State|State Department]]. These departments and department heads have considerable regulatory and political power, and it is they who are responsible for executing federal laws and regulations. [[George W. Bush]] is the 43rd President, currently serving his second term.

====Judicial branch====
[[Image:Seal of the United States Supreme Court.png|right|100px]]

The highest court is the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]], which currently consists of nine justices. The court deals with federal and constitutional matters, and can declare legislation or executive action made at any level of the government as [[Judicial review|unconstitutional]], nullifying the law and creating [[precedent]] for future law and decisions. Below the Supreme Court are the [[United States courts of appeals|courts of appeals]], and below them in turn are the [[United States district court|district courts]], which are the general trial courts for federal law.
Separate from, but not entirely independent of, this federal court system are the individual court systems of each state, each dealing with its own laws and having its own judicial rules and procedures. A case may be appealed from a state court to a federal court only if there is a [[Federal question jurisdiction|federal question]] (an issue arising under the US Constitution, or laws/treaties of the United States); the [[State supreme court|supreme court of each state]] is the final authority on the interpretation of that state's laws and constitution.

===State, tribal, and local governments===
[[Image:Map of USA with county outlines.png|thumb|250px|United States|United States of America, showing [[U.S. state|state]]s, divided into [[Counties of the United States|counties]]. Note that Alaska and Hawaii are shown at different scales, and that the [[Aleutian Islands]] and the [[uninhabited island|uninhabited]] [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands]] are omitted from this map.]]
[[Image:Map of USA with state names.svg|250px|right|thumb|Map of USA with state names]]
The state governments have the greatest influence over people's daily lives. Each state has its own written constitution and has different laws. There are sometimes great differences in law and procedure between the different states, concerning issues such as property, crime, health, and education. The highest elected official of each state is the Governor. Each state also has an elected legislature ([[Bicameralism|bicameral]] in every state except [[Nebraska]]), whose members represent the different parts of the state. Of note is the [[New Hampshire]] legislature, which is the third-largest legislative body in the English-speaking world, and has one representative for every 3,000 people. Each state maintains its own judiciary, with the lowest level typically being county courts, and culminating in each [[state supreme court]], though sometimes named differently. In some states, supreme and lower court justices are elected by the people; in others, they are appointed, as they are in the federal system. See [[state court]] for more information.

As a result of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] case [[Worcester v. Georgia]], [[List of Native American Tribal Entities|Indian tribes]] are considered "domestic dependent nations" that operate as [[tribal sovereignty|sovereign]] governments subject to Federal authority but, generally, outside of the influence from state governments. Hundreds of laws, [[executive order]]s, and court cases have modified the governmental status of tribes vis-à-vis states, but have kept the two officially distinct. Tribal capacity to operate robust governments varies, from a simple council used to manage all aspects of tribal affairs, to large and complex bureaucracies with several branches of government. Tribes are empowered to form their own governments, with power resting in elected tribal councils, elected tribal chairpersons, or religiously appointed leaders (as is the case with [[pueblo|pueblos]]). Tribal citizenship (and voting rights) is generally restricted to individuals of Native descent, but tribes are free to set whatever membership requirements they wish.

The institutions that are responsible for local government are typically town, city, or county boards, making laws that affect their particular area. These laws concern issues such as traffic, the sale of alcohol, and keeping animals. The highest elected official of a town or city is usually the [[mayor]]. In [[New England]], towns operate in a [[direct democracy|direct democratic]] fashion, and in some states, such as Rhode Island and Connecticut, [[Counties of the United States|counties]] have little or no power, existing only as geographic distinctions. In other areas, county governments have more power, such as to collect taxes and maintain [[law enforcement]] agencies.

===Political divisions===
{{main|Political divisions of the United States}}
With the [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|Declaration of Independence]], the [[thirteen colonies]] proclaimed themselves to be [[polity|polities]] modeled after the European states of the time. Although considered as sovereigns initially, under the [[Articles of Confederation]] of 1781 they entered into a "Perpetual Union" and created a fully sovereign federal state, delegating certain powers to the national Congress, including the right to engage in diplomatic relations and to levy war, while each retaining their individual sovereignty, freedom and independence. But the national government proved too ineffective, so the administrative structure of the government was vastly reorganized with the [[United States Constitution]] of 1789. Under this new union, the continued status of the individual states as sovereign [[nation states]] fell into dispute in 1861, as several states attempted to secede from the union; in response, then-President [[Abraham Lincoln]] claimed that such secession was illegal, and the result was the [[American Civil War]]. Since the Union victory in 1865, the independent status of the individual states has not been broached again by any state, and the status of each state within the union has been deemed by mainstream officials and academics to be settled as being subordinate to the union as a whole.

In subsequent years, the number of states grew steadily due to [[United States territorial acquisitions|western expansion]], the purchase of lands by the national government from other nation states, and the subdivision of existing states, resulting in the current total of 50. The states are generally divided into smaller administrative regions, including [[Counties of the United States|counties]], [[List of cities of the United States|cities]] and [[township (United States)|township]]s.

The United States&ndash;Canadian border is the longest undefended political boundary in the world. The U.S. is divided into three distinct sections:

* the "[[continental United States]]," also known as "the Lower 48" and more accurately termed the conterminous, coterminous or contiguous United States
* [[Alaska]], an [[exclave]], which is physically connected only to [[Canada]]
* the [[archipelago]] of Hawai'i, in the central [[Pacific Ocean]].

The United States also holds several other territories, districts, and possessions, notably the [[federal district]] of the [[District of Columbia]], which is the nation's capital, and several overseas [[insular area]]s, the most significant of which are [[American Samoa]], [[Guam]], the [[Northern Mariana Islands]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]. The [[Palmyra Atoll]] is the United States' only [[incorporated territory]]; it is [[Unorganized territory|unorganized]] and uninhabited. Islands gained by the United States in the war against [[Spain]] at the turn of the 20th century were no longer to be considered foreign territory; on the other hand, the [[United States Supreme Court]] declared that they were not automatically covered by the [[Constitution]] and that it was up to [[Congress]] to decide what portions of the [[Constitution]], if any, applied to them. This had been the precisely the quarrel between American colonies and [[Great Britain]] that resulted in the founding of the United States. Seen like this, the Supreme Court in 1901 would have decided in favor of [[George III of the United Kingdom]].

The [[United States Navy]] has held a base at a portion of [[Guantanamo Bay]], [[Cuba]], since 1898. The United States government possesses a lease to this land, which only mutual agreement or United States abandonment of the area can terminate. The present Cuban government of [[Fidel Castro]] disputes this arrangement, claiming Cuba was not truly [[sovereignty|sovereign]] at the time of the signing. The United States argues this point moot because Cuba apparently ratified the lease post-revolution, and with full sovereignty, when it cashed one rent check in accordance with the disputed treaty.

===Foreign relations and military===
[[Image:Statue-of-liberty_tysto.jpg|thumb|right|180px|The [[Statue of Liberty]] was a centennial gift to the United States from France. (''See'' [[Franco-American relations]].)]]
{{main|Foreign relations of the United States|Military of the United States}}

The immense military and economic strength of the United States has made its foreign relations an especially important topic in international politics. Reactions towards United States foreign policy by other nationalities are often strong, ranging from admiration to fierce criticism. The same range of opinions is also found within the United States, with many Americans either supporting or strongly criticizing United States foreign policy.

The First nation to receive foreign aid from the United States was [[Venezuela]]. In 1812, Venezuela, fighting for its indepence from Spain, suffered a severe and damaging earthquake. Congress appropriated $50,000 to help the victims.

[[Morocco]] was the first contry to recognize the United States of America (1777).

Traditionally, the greatest military ally of the United States is the [[United Kingdom]], though the earliest alliance the nation formed was with [[France]] (see [[Franco-American relations]]).

The military force of the United States has been decisive in several major foreign wars, most notably [[World War II]] and, to a lesser degree, [[World War I]].

The United States presently occupies 702 military bases worldwide in 132 different countries. The United States is currently involved in a [[Iraq War|war]] in Iraq, a [[U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan|war]] in Afghanistan, and an [[2004 Haiti Rebellion|intervention in Haiti]]. It has also embarked upon a [[War on Terrorism]].

The United States currently enjoys a positive relationship with the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[Japan]], and [[Poland]], among several others, in that these nations are participating as active military allies with, or logistical supporters of, the United States in all theaters. [[Canada]], [[Germany]], and some others, are participating in the Afghanistan theater but not in Iraq.

Three of the nation's four military branches are administered by the [[Department of Defense]]: the [[United States Army|Army]], the [[United States Navy|Navy]] (including the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]), and the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]. The [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] falls under the jurisdiction of the [[Department of Homeland Security]] in [[Peace|peacetime]], but is placed under the [[Department of Defense]] in time of [[war]].

The combined United States [[armed forces]] consist of 1.4 million [[active duty]] [[personnel]], along with several hundred thousand each in the [[Reserve component|Reserves]] and the [[United States National Guard|National Guard]]. Military [[conscription]] ended in 1973. The United States armed forces are considered to be the most powerful [[military]] (of any sort) in the world, and their [[Power projection|force projection]] capabilities are unrivalled. It is considered dominant on [[water]], [[Landform|land]], [[air]], and [[outer space|space]].

The 2005 defense budget amounted to $401.7 billion, which is an increase of 4% over 2004 and of 35% since 2001. Over 50% of that number is spent in research & development. The new 2006 defense budget amounts to nearly $440 billion, the highest ever. U.S. defense expenditure is estimated to be greater than the [[List of countries by size of Armed Forces|next twelve largest national military budgets combined]].

It should be noted that the United States' focus on military expenditures has ranged very broadly, due to the regularly changing ideology inherent in its political system. The American military, in terms of physical resources, is actually smaller now than it was twenty years ago, despite being larger than it was five years ago, for example.
<!-- US defense budget from http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2005/defense.html -->
<!-- Some information on the evolution of the military? Characteristics of US military strategy, e.g., heavy reliance on air power? -->

===Human rights debates===
{{main|Human rights in the United States}}
The United States is often under criticism from Western governments and [[NGO]]s concerning its use of the death penalty, lengthy detention without trial, forced confessions, [[torture]], and mistreatment of prisoners as well as some restrictions on freedoms of [[freedom of speech|speech]] and [[freedom of the press|the press]], as being violations of their definition of human rights.
<!--Do not vandalize this section - consult talk page intead.
Claimed surpression of human rights in US is a very common debate globally and had great impact on foreign relations: for a good overall picture, the reader should be aware of the debate.
Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view
For references, see article United States/References-->

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the United States}}
The United States has the largest single-country economy in the world, with a [[per capita|per-capita]] annual [[gross domestic product]] of $41,747 (as of Q2 2005 [http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/Z1/current/accessible/f6.htm]). As in all market-oriented economies, private individuals and business firms in the US make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. This is financed via taxes and borrowings in the money and capital markets. Federal borrowings are subject to borrowing caps to theoretically prevent fiscal irresponsibilty. The cap as of 2004 stands at 8.2 trillion. (Borrowings as of November 2005 are 8.1 trillion.)
[[Image:US_%241_obverse.jpg|left|thumb|220px|The [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] is the national currency.]]
The largest sector of the U.S. economy is now [[Tertiary sector of industry|service]], which employs roughly three quarters of the work force. The United States has many [[natural resources]], including oil and gas, metals, and such minerals as [[gold]], [[soda ash]], and [[zinc]]. In [[agriculture]], it is a top producer of, among other crops, [[maize|corn]], [[soy beans]], [[rice]] and [[wheat]]; the United States is a net exporter of food. The [[manufacturing]] sector produces [[Good (economics)|goods]] such as [[automobile|cars]], [[airplanes]], [[steel]], and [[electronics]], among many others.

Economic activity varies greatly from one part of the country to another, with many industries being concentrated in certain cities or regions. For example, [[New York City]] is the center of the American [[finance|financial]], [[publishing]], [[broadcasting]], and [[advertising]] industries. [[Silicon Valley]] is the country's largest [[high technology]] hub, while [[Los Angeles]] is the most important center for [[film]] production. The [[Midwest]] is known for its reliance on manufacturing and heavy industry, with [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], serving as the center of the American [[automotive industry]]. The [[Great Plains]] are known as the "breadbasket" of America for their tremendous agricultural output; the intermountain region serves as a mining hub and natural gas resource; the Pacific Northwest for fish and timber, while [[Texas]] is largely associated with the [[oil]] industry; and the [[Southeast]] is a major hub for both [[medical research]] and the [[textiles]] industry.

Several countries continue to link their [[currency]] to the [[United States dollar|dollar]] or even use it as a currency (such as [[Ecuador]]), although this practice has subsided since the collapse of the [[Bretton Woods system]]. Many markets are also quoted in dollars, such as those of oil and gold. The dollar is also the predominant reserve currency in the world, and more than half of global reserves are in dollars.

The largest trading partner of the United States is [[Canada]] (19%), followed by [[People's Republic of China|China]] (12%), [[Mexico]] (11%), and [[Japan]] (8%). More than 50% of total trade is with these four countries.

In 2003, the United States was [[World Tourism Rankings|ranked]] as the third most visited [[Tourism|tourist]] destination in the world; its 40,400,000 visitors ranked behind [[France]]'s 75,000,000 and [[Spain]]'s 52,500,000.

Labor unions have existed since the 19th century, and grew large and powerful from the 1930s to the 1950s. See [[Labor history of the United States]]. Since 1970 they have shrunk in the private sector and now cover fewer than 8% of the workers. However union membership has grown rapidly in the public sector, especially among teachers, nurses, police, postal workers, and municipal clerks. There have been few strikes in recent years.

The United States' imports exceed exports by 80%, leading to an annual trade deficit of $700,000 million or 6% of gross domestic product. It is the largest debtor nation in the world, with total gross foreign liabilities of over $12,000,000 million as of 2004; and it absorbs more than 50% of global savings annually.

Since the 1980s, the U.S. has increased the use of [[neoliberal]] economic policies that reduce [[government intervention]] and reduce the size of the [[welfare state]], backing away from the more interventionist [[Keynesian]] economic policies that had been in favor since the [[Great Depression]]. As a result, the United States provides fewer government-delivered [[social welfare]] services than most industrialized nations, choosing instead to keep its tax burden lower and relying more heavily on the [[free market]] and private [[Charitable_trust|charities]].

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages higher than the national level ($5.15 per-hour), including the highest, Washington State at $7.35. Twenty-six states are the same as the federal level; two &mdash; Ohio and Kansas &mdash; are below; and six do not have state laws.

The United Nations Development Programme Report 2005 ranks income the United States as the 74th most equal out of 124 countries, as measured by the [[Gini coefficient]]. The richest 10% make 15.9 times as much as the poorest 10%, and the richest 20% make 8.4 times as much as the poorest 20%. (See [[List of countries by income equality]].)

America's [[Poverty in the United States|poverty]] [[Poverty line in the United States|line]], defined for a family of four as an income of less than $19,157, is at 12.7% of the general population. Approximately one out of every five children in the United States grows up below the official poverty line. Among racial groups; American Indians and Alaska Natives have the lowest median income while Asians have the highest. Regionally, the southern states have the lowest median incomes while the West Coast and New England have the highest. The former Federal Reserve Chairman [[Alan Greenspan]] remarked that the U.S.’s growing income inequality since the 1970s is, "not the type of thing which a democratic society - a capitalist democratic society - can really accept without addressing."[http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0614/p01s03-usec.html?s=itm] However, Greenspan also noted, "...you can look at the system and say it's got a lot of problems to it, and sure it does. It always has. But you can't get around the fact that this is the most extraordinarily successful economy in history."

{{seealso|List of United States companies}}

==Demographics==

=== Population ===
{| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 95%;"
|-
! colspan=2 bgcolor="#ccccff" align="center"| Historical populations
|-
! align="center"| Census<br>year !! align="right"| Population
|-
| colspan=2|<hr>
|-
| align="center"| 1790 || align="right"| 3,929,214
|-
| align="center"| 1800 || align="right"| 5,308,483
|-
| align="center"| 1810 || align="right"| 7,239,881
|-
| align="center"| 1820 || align="right"| 9,638,453
|-
| align="center"| 1830 || align="right"| 12,866,020
|-
| align="center"| 1840 || align="right"| 17,069,453
|-
| align="center"| 1850 || align="right"| 23,191,876
|-
| align="center"| 1860 || align="right"| 31,443,321
|-
| align="center"| 1870 || align="right"| 38,558,371
|-
| align="center"| 1880 || align="right"| 50,189,209
|-
| align="center"| 1890 || align="right"| 62,979,766
|-
| align="center"| 1900 || align="right"| 76,212,168
|-
| align="center"| 1910 || align="right"| 92,228,496
|-
| align="center"| 1920 || align="right"| 106,021,537
|-
| align="center"| 1930 || align="right"| 123,202,624
|-
| align="center"| 1940 || align="right"| 132,164,569
|-
| align="center"| 1950 || align="right"| 151,325,798
|-
| align="center"| 1960 || align="right"| 179,323,175
|-
| align="center"| 1970 || align="right"| 203,302,031
|-
| align="center"| 1980 || align="right"| 226,542,199
|-
| align="center"| 1990 || align="right"| 248,709,873
|-
| align="center"| [[United States 2000 Census|2000]] || align="right"| 281,421,906
|}
<!--[[Image:USA 2000 population density.png|thumb|Population density by county]]]]-->[[Image:2k_night.jpg|thumb|2000 Population Distribution Map]]
{{main|Demographics of the United States}}

The [[mean center of U.S. population|mean center of the U.S. population]] continues to drift farther west and south. The fastest growing region is the [[Western United States|West]], followed by the [[Southern United States|South]]. Growth in some parts of the nation have been particularly extreme such as the fastest growing metropolitan area, [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], which went from 273,288 people in 1970 to about 1,650,671 in 2004. Between 1990 and 2000, 19 of the 20 fastest-growing states were in these two regions.[http://www.censusscope.org/us/rank_popl_growth.html]

Major demographic trends include the mass immigration of Hispanics from [[Latin America]] into the [[Southwest United States|Southwest]], which is home to 60 percent (21 of the 35 million) of the nation's Hispanics (their numbers increased 57.9% nationally in the 1990s). The [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] has been the residence of choice for immigrating Asians, particularly from [[China]]. The West Coast is now home to approximately half of all American citizens of Asian ancestry (5 of the 10 million; increasing 52.4% in number during the 1990s).

====Ethnicity and race====
{{main|Racial demographics of the United States}}

The United States is a very racially [[diversity|diverse]] country. According to the 2000 census, it has 31 ethnic groups with at least one million members each, and numerous others represented in smaller amounts.

The majority of Americans descend from [[white]] [[Europe|European]] immigrants who arrived after the establishment of the first colonies (most after [[Reconstruction]]). This majority--69% in 2000--decreases each year, and is expected to become a [[plurality]] within a few decades. The most frequently stated European ancestries are [[German peoples|German]] (15.2%), [[Irish people|Irish]] (10.8%), [[English people|English]] (8.7%), [[Italian people|Italian]] (5.6%) and [[Scandinavian]] (3.7%). Many immigrants also hail from [[Slavs|Slavic]] countries such as [[Poland]] and [[Russia]]. Other significant immigrant populations came from eastern and southern Europe and French Canada.

[[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanics]] from [[Mexico]] and [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]] are second only to the German-American population. Hispanics comprise 13% of the population (2000 census). People of Mexican descent made up 7.3% of the population in the 2000 census, and this proportion is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades.

Approximately 12.9% (2000 census) of the American people designated themselves as Black alone or in combination with some other race([[African American]]). [[African Americans]] are spread throughout the country, but their proportional population is largest in the [[Southern United States|South]].

[[Asian Americans]], including [[Native Hawaiians]] and [[Pacific Islanders]], are a third significant minority (4% of the population in 2000). Most Asian Americans are concentrated on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] and [[Hawaii]]. The largest groups are immigrants or descendants of emigrants from the [[Philippines]], [[China]], [[India]], [[Vietnam]], [[South Korea]], and [[Japan]].

[[Indigenous peoples in the United States]], such as [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]s and [[Inuit]], make up 1% of the population (2000 census). About 35% live on [[Indian reservations]].

For the first time ever, American citizens were able to list all of the [[racial]], [[ethnic]], or [[ancestry]] groups which they felt was appropriate for them. For example, a dual ancestry person was counted in the Italian and the Irish ancestry group or a [[biracial]] person was counted in the White and Black groups.

{{seealso|Immigration to the United States}}

====Religion====
{{main|Religion in the United States|Demographics of the United States#Religious Affiliation}}
There is no official Religion in the United States, but polls estimate that 80 percent of Americans are [[Christian]]s of various denominations. While Christianity is growing in America, it is not growing as fast as the general population resulting in a 10 per cent decline from 90 percent as recently as 1990. About 2 percent of Americans follow [[Judaism]]. The other 18 percent is comprised of people of no religion and other religions, such as [[Hinduism in the United States|Hinduism]], [[Islam]], and [[Buddhism in the United States|Buddhism]]. The largest single sect of Christianity in the United States is Roman Catholicism (about 26%), followed by the Baptist Christian faith (about 18%).

The United States is noteworthy among developed nations for its relatively high level of religiosity. According to a 2004 [[Gallup poll]], about 44% of Americans attend a religious service at least once a week. However, this rate is not uniform across the country; attendance is more common in the [[Bible Belt]]—composed largely of [[Southern U.S.|Southern]] and [[Midwest|Midwestern]] states—than in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] and [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. In the Southern states, Baptists are the largest group, followed by Methodists; Roman Catholics are dominant in the Northeast and in large parts of the Midwest due to their being settled by descendants of Catholic immigrants from Europe (such as Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland) or other parts of North America (mainly Quebec and Puerto Rico). The rest of the country for the most part has a complex mixture of various Christian groups.

According to census figures and related polls, [[neo-paganism]] is the fastest growing organized religion in the United States though its numbers of adherents are rated below 800,000 in the United States as of 2000. This reflects a growing diversification of religious belief in the United States over the last few decades.

====Public health====
{{main|Health care in the United States}}
The United States has several [[public health]] problems: widespread [[obesity]], unhealthy diets, progressing [[AIDS|HIV-AIDS]] epidemic and [[tobacco smoking|cigarette smoking]] among over quarter of the population.

Unlike in most western countries, the government does not provide universal health insurance for all citizens. Even so, government spending on health care is the highest of any country in the world with major programs such as [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] and [[Medicaid]]. Health insurance in the United States is traditionally a benefit of employment, and many cases this is mandated by law. It should also be noted that providing emergency care if needed is required by law of any licensed emergency care facility regardless of the patient's ability to pay. Medical bills are the most common reason for personal [[bankruptcy]] in the United States, and it is estimated that roughly 45 Million Americans have no health coverage.

==People and culture==
[[Image:Elvisstamp.jpg|frame|right|[[Elvis Presley]], an American singer and star who had a large impact on music and youth culture in the world.]]
{{main|Culture of the United States}}

U.S. popular culture has a significant influence on the rest of the world, especially the [[Western world]]. [[Music of the United States|U.S. music]] is heard all over the world, and it is the sire of such forms as [[blues]] and [[jazz]] and had a primary hand in the shaping of modern [[rock and roll]] and [[popular music]] culture. Many famous [[European classical music|Western classical music]]ians and ensembles find their home in the U.S. [[New York City]] is a hub for international [[opera]]tic and [[instrumental]] music as well as the world-famed [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] plays and musicals. [[Nashville]] is the center of the [[country music]] industry. Another export of the last 20 years is [[hip hop music]], which began in New York and is growing in influence as it branches into the fashion, food and drink, and movie industries. New York, Seattle, and [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] are worldwide leaders in [[graphic design]] and New York and [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] compete with major European cities in the fashion industry.

[[Image:Motherhood and apple pie.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Cultural icons: [[Apple pie]], [[baseball]], and the [[Flag of the United States|American flag]].]]
[[Cinema of the United States|U.S. movies]] (primarily embodied in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]]) and [[Television of the United States|television]] shows can be seen almost anywhere except the most [[totalitarian]] places. This is in stark contrast to the early days of the republic, when the country was viewed by Europeans as an agricultural backwater with little to offer the culturally advanced world centers of Asia and Europe.

Nearing the mid-point of its third century of nationhood, the U.S. plays host to the gamut of human intellectual and artistic endeavor in nearly every major city, offering classical and popular music; historical, scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances, musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant architecture. This development is a result of both contributions by private philanthropists and government funding.

American holidays are variously national and local. Many holidays recognize events or people of importance to the nation's history; as such, they represent significant cultural observance.

{{see also|Arts and entertainment in the United States|Media of the United States|Holidays of the United States}}

==Language==
{{main|Languages in the United States}}

The United States does not have an [[official language]] at the federal level. [[English language|English]] is the language generally used for official pronouncements, though there is legislation that assists non-English speakers, such as the [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d102:HR04312:|TOM:/bss/d102query.html| Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992], which prohibits covered States and political subdivisions from providing English-only voting materials.

Twenty-seven individual states have adopted English as their official language, and three of those—[[Hawaii]], [[Louisiana]], and [[New Mexico]]—have also adopted a second official language ([[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], [[French language|French]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]], respectively). Spanish and German follows English as the second-most spoken languages primarily due to the influence of [[Latin America|Latin American]], [[German]], [[Austrian]] and [[Swiss]] immigrants. German is the primary spoken language in some areas of the [[Amish]]. Spanish is the first language of [[Puerto Rico]].

The primary signed language is [[American Sign Language]] (ASL).

As of 2004, the United States was the home of approximately 336 languages (spoken or signed), of which 176 are indigenous to U.S. territory.

==Largest cities==
{|align=right
|[[Image:Top of Rock Cropped.jpg|thumb|right|180px|New York, New York]]
|-
|[[Image:DowntownLosAngeles.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Los Angeles, California]]
|-
|[[Image:Chicagoskyline2005.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Chicago, Illinois]]
|}
The United States has dozens of major cities, including 11 of the 55 [[global cities]] of all types &mdash; with three "alpha" global cities: [[New York City]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], and [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]].
The figures expressed below are for populations within city limits. A different ranking is evident when considering [[List_of_United_States_metropolitan_statistical_areas_by_population|U.S. metro area populations]], although the top three would be unchanged.
Note that some cities not listed (such as [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]], [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] and [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]]) are still considered important on the basis of other factors and issues, including culture, economics, heritage, and politics.
The ten largest cities, based on the [[United States Census Bureau]]'s 2004 estimates, are as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; margin-right:60px"
|-
!rowspan=2| Rank
!rowspan=2 align=center |City
!rowspan=2| Population<br><small> within<br>city limits</small>
! rowspan=2| Population<br>Density<br><small> per sq mi</small>
! colspan=2 rowspan=1 |Metropolitan<br>Area
!rowspan=2| Region
|-
!rowspan=1|<small>millions</small>
!rowspan=1|<small>rank</small>
|-
| 1 ||align=left | [[New York City]] || '''8,104,079''' || 26,402.9 ||18.7 ||1|| [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]]
|-
| 2 ||align=left | [[Los Angeles, California]] || '''3,845,541''' || 7,876.8 || 12.9||2|| [[Pacific States|Pacific]]-[[Western United States|West]]
|-
| 3 ||align=left | [[Chicago, Illinois]] || '''2,862,244''' || 12,750.3 || 9.4 ||3|| [[Great Lakes]]
|-
| 4 ||align=left | [[Houston, Texas]] || '''2,012,626''' || 3,371.7 ||5.2 ||7|| [[South Central United States|South-Central]]
|-
| 5 ||align=left | [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] || '''1,470,151''' || 11,233.6|| 5.8 ||4 || [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]]
|-
| 6 ||align=left | [[Phoenix, Arizona]] || '''1,418,041''' || 2,782.0|| 3.7 ||14 || [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]]
|-
| 7 ||align=left | [[San Diego, California]] || '''1,263,756''' || 3,771.9 || 2.9 ||17|| [[Pacific States|Pacific]]-[[Western United States|West]]
|-
| 8 ||align=left | [[San Antonio, Texas]] || '''1,236,249''' || 2,808.5|| 1.8 ||29 || [[South Central United States|South-Central]]
|-
| 9 ||align=left | [[Dallas, Texas]] || '''1,210,393''' || 3,469.9|| 5.7 ||5 || [[South Central United States|South-Central]]
|-
|10 ||align=left | [[San Jose, California]] || '''904,522''' || 5,117.9|| 1.7 ||30 || [[Pacific States|Pacific]]-[[Western United States|West]]
|}
<br clear=left>
{{see|List of United States cities by population}}

==Education==
[[Image:RotundaII.jpg|204px|right|thumb|America's 19 [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage Sites]] include [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s home at [[Monticello]] and the [[University of Virginia]] ([[The Rotunda (University of Virginia)|original library]] shown above, and designed by Jefferson), the only collegiate campus on the list. Both sites are located in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]].]]
{{main|Education in the United States}}

In the United States, education is a state, not federal, responsibility, and the laws and standards vary considerably. However, the federal government, through the [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]], is involved with funding of some programs and exerts some influence through its ability to control funding. In most states, all students must attend mandatory schooling starting with [[kindergarten]], which children normally enter at age 5, and following through 12th grade, which is normally completed at age 18 (although in some states, students are permitted to drop out upon the age of 16 with the permission of their parents/guardians). Parents may educate their own children at home (with varying degrees of state oversight), send their children to a [[public school]], which is funded with tax money, or to a [[private school]], where parents must pay [[tuition]]. Public schools are highly decentralized with funding and curriculum decisions taking place mostly at the local level through [[school boards]].

After high school, students may choose to continue their schooling at a [[public university|public]]/[[state university]] or a [[private university]]. Public universities receive funding from the federal and state government but students still pay tuition, which can vary depending on the university, state, and whether the student is a resident of the state or not. Tuition at private universities tends to be much higher than at public universities. It is not uncommon for students to join the workforce or the military before attending college; both the military and many private employers may subsidize post-secondary education.

American [[college]]s and universities range from highly competitive schools, both private (such as [[Harvard University]] and [[Princeton University]]) and public (such as the [[University of California, Berkeley]] and the [[University of Virginia]]), to hundreds of high-quality local [[community college]]s with open admission policies.

It should be noted that the United States is one of the few industrialized countries to not provide a free university education to its citizenry. It does however, provide [[financial aid]] in the form of grants and loans to eligible students for university education. But by doing so it, unlike other nations, leaves some of its young citizenry in substantial debt, although many upper and middle-class students' parents foot the bill, while lower-class students generally receive mostly grants.

{{see|List of colleges and universities in the United States}}

==Transportation==
[[Image:Los Angeles Freeway Interchange.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Stack [[interchange]] in [[Los Angeles]] ]]
{{clearright}}
{| align="right"
|-
|[[Image:Interstate 95.svg|100px]]
|}
{{main|Transportation in the United States}}

Because the [[automobile]] industry took off very early in United States (when compared to other Western nations) much of the development of U.S. urban areas has taken place around the concept of creating cities and residential areas to suit the needs of road vehicles. The automobile industry was quick to attain influence in government and [[media]] alike, and was also the force behind the dismantling of the electric rail transport systems or [[trolleys]] in over 40 U.S. cities through a subsidiary called [[National City Lines]].
To link its vast territory, the United States built a network of high-capacity, high-speed [[highway]]s, of which the most important element is the [[Interstate Highway]] system. These highways were commissioned in the 1950s by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and modeled after the [[Germany|German]] [[Autobahn]]. There is also a [[First Transcontinental Railroad|transcontinental rail system]], which is used for moving freight across the lower forty-eight states. Passenger rail service is provided by [[Amtrak]], which serves forty-six of the lower forty-eight states.

Many cities still have extensive [[mass transit|mass-transit]] systems. The largest of them, [[Transportation in New York City|New York City]] operates one of the world's most heavily used [[subway]] systems. The [[regional rail]] and bus networks that extend into [[Long Island]], [[New Jersey]], [[Upstate New York]], and [[Connecticut]] are among the most heavily used in the world.

[[Air travel]] is the preferred means of travel for long distances. In terms of passengers, seventeen of the world's thirty busiest [[airports]] in 2004 were in the U.S., including the world's busiest, [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]. In terms of cargo, in the same year, twelve of the world's thirty busiest airports were in the U.S., including the world's busiest, [[Memphis International Airport]]. There are several major [[seaport|seaports]] in the United States; the three busiest are the [[Port of Los Angeles]], [[California]]; the [[Port of Long Beach]], [[California]]; and the [[Port_Authority_of_New_York_and_New_Jersey|Port of New York and New Jersey]]. Others include [[Duluth, Minnesota]], [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]; [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], [[South Carolina]]; [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]; [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], [[Florida]]; [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]]; [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], [[California]]; [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]; [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]; and [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], [[Washington]]; plus, outside the contiguous forty-eight states, [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], [[Alaska]], and [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]].
<br style="clear:both;" />

==Sports==
[[Image:College_Football_CSU_AF.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[American football]] is one of the most popular [[spectator sport]]s in the United States.]]
{{main|Sports in the United States}}
The [[major league|major]] team [[sport]]s in America are home-grown. [[American football]], [[baseball]] (often called "The National Pastime"), [[auto racing]] (especially [[NASCAR]]), and [[basketball]], are the top four main sports in America. [[Ice hockey]] is also popular in the U.S., especially in the [[Upper Midwest]] and [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]]. Although it is currently one of the most played sports amongst American youth, [[football (soccer)|soccer]] does not have a particularly large following in the U.S. in contrast to its extreme popularity in most other countries. Nevertheless, the U.S. did host the [[Football World Cup|World Cup]] in 1994. Professional sports in America is very big business and its athletes are very well compensated. The majority of the world's highest paid athletes play team sports in America [http://www.forbes.com/2004/06/23/04athletesland.html].

The United States also hosts large followings of traditional European sporting events. [[Horse racing]] is popular as a gambling event and the United States hosts several world renowned horse racing events, including the [[Kentucky Derby]]. [[Rugby Union]] has also established itself as a popular sport with a loyal following. Other European sports such as [[polo]] and [[cricket]], while not popular, do attract players and have established leagues.

The United States hosts some of the premier events in other sports such as [[golf]] (including three of the four [[Major Championships|majors]]), and [[tennis]] (the [[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]]). The most popular form of [[auto racing]] is [[NASCAR]]. [[Formula One]], while dominant in the rest of the world, has only made limited inroads into the U.S. market. The only Formula One event currently in the U.S. is the [[United States Grand Prix]]. However, the visually similar [[Indy 500]] is the nation's most famous racing event, and both the U.S. Grand Prix and the Indy 500 currently take place at the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]].

[[Image:NASCAR_practice.jpg|thumb|left|250px|NEXTEL Cup drivers practice for the 2004 [[Daytona 500]].]]

In the 20th century, the United States became the center of the two most popular Western [[combat sport|combat sports]]&mdash;[[boxing]], which is popular as both a [[spectator sport]] and a gambling event, and [[professional wrestling]], which is more scripted entertainment than a true sport. The United States has produced many champion boxers who have become public figures in their own right. Other combat sports based on [[Asia|Asian]] martial arts, such as [[karate]] competitions, maintain large national leagues and hold frequent competitions.

The number of gun owners in America has given widespread popularity to [[shooting sports]] as an amateur pastime. Competitions on marksmanship and other firearm related skills are a regular feature at many shooting ranges. Several organizations (such as the [[National Rifle Association]]) maintain national leagues or participate in international leagues such as the [[ISSF]]. The United States also developed a unique shooting sport in the 1980s called [[cowboy action shooting]].

The three popular [[Boardsport|board-based recreational sports]] - [[surfboarding]], [[skateboarding]] and [[snowboarding]] were created in The United States. While first practiced by native [[Hawaiians]], Americans were almost solely responsible for creating surfboarding's worldwide popularity. Skateboarding and snowboarding are completely modern American inventions, and all three have given rise to national competitions and a large dedicated subculture. Snowboarding is the only one of the three to become an Olympic event, beginning with the [[Winter Olympics]] in 1998.

Eight [[Olympic Games|Olympic Games]] have been hosted in the U.S., more than in any other nation. The United States generally fares fairly well in the Olympics especially the [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]]: in 2004, the U.S. topped the [[2004 Summer Olympics medal count|medals table]] with a record 103 medals (35 gold, 39 silver and 29 bronze). For details see [[United States at the Olympics]].

During times of extreme popularity certain teams have been (unofficially) crowned "America's team." The [[New York Yankees]], the [[Chicago Bulls]] and [[New York Knicks]], and the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[New York Giants]], are examples of teams that have reached this status.

American [[college sports]] are nearly as popular as professional sports, particularly [[college football]] and [[college basketball]]. American colleges often support wide-ranging sports programs, including [[track and field]] and more eclectic sports such as [[water polo]].

==See also==
{{main|List of United States-related topics}}
{{US_topics}}
{{United States 2}}

==International rankings==
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [http://www.atkearney.com/main.taf?p=5,4,1,116 Globalization Index 2005], ranked 4 out of 62 countries
* [[IMD International]]: [http://www01.imd.ch/wcy/ World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005], ranked 1 out of 60 economies (countries and regions)
* [[Reporters without borders]]: [http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554 Fourth annual worldwide press freedom index (2005)], ranked 44 (American territory) & 137 (in Iraq) out of 167 countries
* [[Save the Children]]: [http://www.savethechildren.org/mothers/report_2005/ State of the World's Mothers 2005], ranked 11 out of 110 countries
* [[The Wall Street Journal]]: [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ 2005] [[Index of Economic Freedom]], ranked 12 out of 155 countries
* [[The Economist]]: [http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005], ranked 13 out of 111 countries
* [[Transparency International]]: [http://ww1.transparency.org/cpi/2005/2005.10.18.cpi.en.html Corruption Perceptions Index 2005], ranked 17 out of 146 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Global+Competitiveness+Programme%5CGlobal+Competitiveness+Report Global Competitiveness Report 2004-2005 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking], ranked 2 out of 104 countries
* [[Yale University|Yale University Center for Environmental Law and Policy]] and [[Columbia University|Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network]]: [http://www.yale.edu/esi/ESI2005_Main_Report.pdf Index of Environmental Sustainability Index], ranked 45 out of 146 countries.

==Notes==
Detailed references available in a subpage [[United States/References]].

# {{note|America}} ''America'' may describe the United States or the [[Americas]]&mdash;[[North America|North]] and [[South America]] (including [[Central America]]). The latter usage is more common in [[Latin American]] countries, where the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] word ''América'' refers to the pair of continents. ''United States'' is a less ambiguous term and less likely to cause offense. ''[[Use of the word American|American]]'' as a noun to describe an inhabitant of America or a citizen or national of the United States, and as an adjective meaning "of the United States," has no straightforward unambiguous synonym in [[English language|English]]. Many [[Use of the word American|other words for ''American'']] have been proposed, but none has been widely accepted.

==External links==
{{portal}}
{{sisterlinks|United States}}

===United States government===
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov White House] - Official site of the U.S. President
*[http://www.senate.gov Senate] - Official site of the United States Senate
*[http://www.house.gov House] - Official site of the United States House of Representatives
*[http://www.supremecourtus.gov Supreme Court] - Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States
*[http://www.dmv.org Department of Motor Vehicles] - Links to DMV/motor vehicles information for all of the United States
*[http://www.unitedstates.org United States] - Links to official United States sites
*[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html CIA World Factbook Entry for United States]
*[http://www.firstgov.gov Official website of the United States government] - Gateway to governmental sites
*[http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/homepage.htm Portrait of the USA] - Published by the United States Information Agency, September 1997.
*[http://nationalatlas.gov/ The National Atlas of the United States.]
*[http://www.theusaonline.com United States]
*[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/ U.S. Census Housing and Economic Statistics] Updated regularly by U.S. Bureau of the Census.
*[http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html U.S. Census POPClock Projection of current U.S. population]
*[http://vlib.iue.it/history/USA/ WWW-VL: United States History Index]

===Other===
*[http://www.nationalcenter.org/HistoricalDocuments.html Historical Documents]
*[http://www.teacheroz.com/states.htm Info links for each state]
*[http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_mott.htm National Motto: History and Constitutionality]
*[http://www.travel-directory.org/Destinations/North_America/United_States/index.html Reference: U.S. specific web resources sorted by state]
*[http://www.mediatico.com/en U.S. Newspapers by State]
*[http://www.countymapsusa.com/ County Maps of USA]


{{U.S. regions}}

{{Template:US ties}}

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Revision as of 15:19, 7 February 2006

===Islami-Jamhuriya-e-America

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