United States of America

United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or U.S.) is a large democratic republic on the continent of North America. It is has the world's largest economy, influences culture across the globe, and is the only remaining military superpower.

Government
The United States has a democratic republic government. The U.S. Constitution divides it into three branches, with checks and balances in place to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.



Legislative Branch
The legislative branch creates the country's laws. It is divided into two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together, these houses are often called "Congress." The Senate has 100 members (2 for each state), and the House of Representatives has 435 (which are apportioned to the states based on population). The framers of the Constitution intended for it to be the most powerful branch of government and the representatives are directly elected by the people (as of the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution).

Executive Branch
The executive branch executes and upholds the laws of the United States. The head of the branch is the President of the United States. Even though the President is a civilian, he is also the Commander in Chief of the United States military forces.

Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of the United States government interprets the laws of the country. Its highest body is the United States Supreme Court, which is made up of 9 judges (called Justices) appointed by the President to life-long terms, and confirmed by the Senate.

Culture
The United States is a cultural powerhouse. Its capitalist economy encourages innovation and fosters successful ideas, leading to incredible advancements in arts, entertainment, and even food and drink. Because of this, cultural products from the United States exploded onto the world stage in the 20th century. For better or for worse, people in countries across the globe listen to American music, watch American movies, and drink Coca-Cola.