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The United States Total area: 9,631,418 sq km
Population: 295,7 million
of America Capital: Washington, District of Columbia
Geography
The United States includes fifty semi−
autonomous states. It also administers
14 territories, made up mostly of Pacific
islands.
The United States is the third largest
country in the world in both size, and
population. It is approximately half the
size of Russia.
The central region is dominated by
large plains. In the west are mountains
and, in the southwest, areas of desert.
facts
Alaska features river valleys and rugged
mountains, while Hawaii is largely With five national parks, Utah is America's Mount McKinley in Alaska (6,194 m)
volcanic. The lowest extreme is Death national parks capital.
6 Valley in California (−86 m). Mount
McKinley in Alaska (6,194 m), is the living on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts with that policy. It is ironic though, that
highest point in the US. must beware of hurricanes. The Midwest America's best ally is the country from
suffers mainly from tornadoes, as does which the US split back in 1776, Great
the southeast. Britain.
Climate
Though the climate is mostly
temperate, there are extremes in Alaska History Political system
(arctic), and Florida and Hawaii (tropical). The United States was officially Type of Government: Representational
There are also semi−arid areas in the founded on July 4, 1776. This was the federal republic, based on
west, and arid conditions in the date the former British colonies declared a strong constitution.
southwest. their independence. A long war followed The government is
between the new country and the old, divided into three
ending with an American victory in 1783. branches, the
Natural dangers The first constitution was proclaimed in Executive, Legislative,
The Pacific Basin faces danger 1789. and Judicial.
mainly from earthquakes, volcanoes, The most violent time in America was The Executive is made
forest fires and mudslides, while those from 1861 − 1865, when a bloody civil up of the chief of state
war was fought between states from the (the president) and his
north and south. The north won and cabinet. Unlike in many other
ended slavery in the south. countries, in the US, the chief
Later, in all, 37 more states were of state is also head of the
added to the original 13, bringing the government. There is no prime
total to its current number of 50. minister.
As America's economic power grew, The president and vice president
the US became more influential and more run for office on the same ticket,
involved in world politics. In 1898, and are chosen by the Electoral
America became an empire after College, made up of representatives
defeating Spain in a war over Cuba. The from each state. This technically means
US freed Cuba and gained Spanish Americans do not directly elect their
possessions in the Pacific, such as the president. The president and vice
Philippines. president serve four year terms, and are
The flag is a rectangle with 13 alternating red In both WWI and WWII, the US began limited to just two terms.
and white horizontal stripes, representing the as a neutral state, but in fact, acted as The Legislative branch is a bicameral
original thirteen colonies. In the upper-left corner an arsenal and banker for the Allies. In congress made up of the Senate (two
is a blue rectangle with fifty white stars, one for both these wars, America eventually from each state) and the House of
each state. The flag is nicknamed Stars and joined in the fighting, and was vital to the Representatives (435 members, with
Stripes or Old Glory. success of their allies. membership based on state population).
The current flag is not the original design. There Since the end of the WWII, the US has Both senators and representatives are
have been many designs over the years, mostly been the most dominant nation in the directly elected by the citizens of the
dependent on the number of stars. This flag has world. American policy is often state they represent. Senators serve a
been in service since 1959, when the last two stars controversial, and some countries, such term of six years, while representatives
were added (representing Alaska and Hawaii). as France and Germany, often disagree serve two.
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Soft sand is typical for beaches in Hawaii. Famous skyscrapers in New York There are five main US ethnic groups...
and Homer Simpson.
7
The Judicial branch enforces and
interprets the laws made by the People
Legislative and approved by the There are many ethnic groups in the
Executive. This branch consists of many US. Five basic categories are: white
levels of federal courts. The highest of (81.7%), black (12.9%), Asian (4.2%), vocabulary
these is the Supreme Court, with nine Amerindian and Alaska native (1%), native
justices appointed for life. Hawaiian and other Pacific islander to administer [@d"mInIst@] − spravovat
There are two main political parties: (0.2%). One of the largest ethnic groups, made up mostly of − tvoøených vìtšinou
the Republicans (thought of as Hispanic, is not an official ethnic group. Alaska features ["fi:tS@z] − pro Aljašku jsou typická
rugged ["rVgId] − rozeklaný
conservative) and the Democrats (liberal).
the lowest extreme [Ik"stri:m] − nejniší bod
The current administration is Republican.
Holidays temperate ["tEmp(@)r@t] − mírný
arid conditions ["&rId] − suché prostøedí
One of the most popular holidays in the Pacific Basin faces danger mainly from
America is Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday earthquakes ["@:TkweIks] − tichomoøskou oblast
in November) when people give thanks ohroují hlavnì zemìtøesení
for their lives and country. mudslide ["mVdslaId] − sesuv pùdy
Christmas (December 25th) coupled to beware of [bI"wE:] − dávat si pozor na
with New Year's Day (January 1st) is to declare [dI"klE:] − vyhlásit
known collectively as ‘ the holiday constitution [kQnstI"tju:S(@)n] − ústava
season’. slavery ["sleIv(@)ri] − otroctví
involved in − zapojený do
The main summer holiday is
to defeat [dI"fi:t] − porazit
Independence Day, July 4th,
possession [p@"zES(@)n] − drava, kolonie
celebrating the day when the US ally ["&laI] − spojenec
declared independence from vital ["vaIt(@)l] − dùleitý, klíèový
Britain in 1776. Cities hold to split − odtrhnout se
parades and fireworks displays, branch [brA:n(t)S] − sloka (moci)
and many sporting events Executive, Legislative and Judicial [Ig"zEkjUtIv
occur. "lEdZIsl@tIv dZU"dIS(@)l] − výkonná, zákonodárná a
Memorial Day (honoring soudní
soldiers killed fighting for run for office on the same ticket − kandidují na
America), celebrated the úøad spoleènì
bicameral [baI"k&m(@)r(@)l] − dvoukomorový
last Monday in May, and
to enforce [In"fO:s] − prosazovat, uplatòovat
Labor Day (honoring the
to approve [@"pru:v] − schválit
American workforce), appointed for life [@"pOIntId] − jmenovanými do
celebrated the first funkce doivotnì
Monday in September, parade [p@"reId] − pøehlídka
are also popular to occur [@"k@:] − konat se
summer holidays. workforce ["w@:kfO:s] − pracující
Patrick Phillips (USA) rectangle ["rEkt&Ng(@)l] − obdélník
current ["kVr(@)nt] − souèasný
mostly dependent on [dI"pEnd(@)nt] − vìtšinou v
závislosti na
