LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT USA

America boasts a population of 300,000,000. The US is also one of the most culturally diverse nations on the planet with the ethnic minority population at 34% of the nation’s total.

GOVERNMENT AND RIGHTS

America’s government is a constitutional federal republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. Within this framework the President of the United States (the head of state and head of government), United States Congress, and the judiciary share federal powers. In accordance, the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments and Federal and state elections operate as a two-party electoral system.

The executive branch is headed by the President and is independent of the legislature. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Judicial power is exercised by the judicial branch (or judiciary), composed of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. The judiciary's function is to interpret the United States Constitution as well as federal laws and regulations. This includes resolving disputes between the executive and legislative branches. The federal government of the United States was established by the Constitution. American politics has been dominated by two parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, since the American Civil War, although other parties have also existed.

Personal freedom and human rights are entrenched in the United States Bill of Rights. Among the most important rights that everyone in the America enjoys:

• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of religion
• Right to keep and bear arms
• Freedom of assembly,
• Freedom to petition.

The Bill of Rights also prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and compelled self-incrimination. In addition, the Bill of Rights also prohibits Congress from making any law respecting establishment of religion and prohibits the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

LANGUAGE

Although the US does not have an official language, the majority of the population speaks English as a native language. The Spanish language is the most common language spoken by almost 30 million people. With approximately 337 different languages spoken by the population, almost every language and culture in the world can find some representation, and a home, in America.

RELIGION

Although most Americans identify themselves as Christian, the US is a secular and tolerant society. All religions are free to assemble and worship as they wish.

CITIES

America’s large cities, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, all have unique styles, climates, economies and cultural characteristics. New York City is the largest city in the United States and among the largest urban areas in the world. Serving as one of the world’s primary global cities, this cosmopolitan city exerts a power influence worldwide over commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment. Los Angeles is the most populous and of the most diverse counties in the United States, hailing people from all over the globe who speak 224 different languages. The centre of culture, technology, media, business, and international trade, Los Angeles leads the world in producing popular entertainment. Chicago is sometimes called the "Second City" for its history, central transportation hub for North America, and dominant centre of finance, industry, and culture in the region.

GEOGRAPHY

America’s geography is highly varied. The West Coast is mountainous, and the Central plain vast. Hills and low mountains cover the East, with rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska, and rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii.

ECONOMY

The economy of the United States is the world's largest national economy. As of 2007, America’s GDP was estimated as US$13.8 trillion with a GDP per capita of approximately US$46,000. America has a mixed economy in that private firms make the majority of the microeconomic decisions while being regulated by the government.

In recent years the U.S. economy has maintained a stable overall GDP growth rate, a low unemployment rate, and high levels of research and capital investment funded by both national and increasingly by foreign investors.

The United States is rich in mineral resources, fertile farm soil, and fortunately a moderate climate. Extensive waterways and coastlines on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, flowing rivers from far within the continent, including the Great Lakes, provide additional shipping access and have helped shape the country's economic growth over the years. This has helped bind America's 50 individual states together in a single economic unit.

America’s close proximity to Canada makes cross-border trade easy and efficient. Most of the USA’s exports are sold to the Canadian market. Indeed, although this is little known in America, Canada is by far the biggest trading partner of the United States. As well, America’s membership in the North American Free Trade Agreement has meant that American companies have almost unfettered access to the wider North American market.

CURRENCY

America uses a decimal-based currency. 100 cents make up on American Dollar, symbolized with a standard dollar sign ($). Coins and banknotes are issued in the following denominations:

• 1 cent (penny)
• 5 cents (nickel)
• 10 cents (dime)
• 25 cents (quarter)
• 1 dollar
• 5 dollars
• 10 dollars
• 20 dollars
• 50 dollars
• 100 dollars

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