UNIT 1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE USA
Country, State, Flag, Population
The USA is the main highly developed country of the world community due to its economies and military power. The USA is a federal republic of 50 states. It includes the state of Alaska, at the north-western extreme of North America, and the island state of Hawaii, in the mid Pacific Ocean. The states are bounded on the north by Canada, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The national capital is Washington, D.C., the federal capital region created in 1790.
The total area of the USA is 9,529,063 sq. km., making it the 4th largest country in the world in area (after Russia, Canada, and China).
The physical environment of the USA ranges from the Arctic to the subtropical; there are about 3,000 miles from East to West and 1,500 miles from North to South.
The United States contains a highly diverse population because of sustained global immigration. The USA population is over 180,000,000 (10 % of which are black). Population consists of the native Americans (including American Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimo), the descendents of Africans taken as slaves to America, the tens millions of immigrants who have gone to America hoping for better life. Persons with Spanish surnames make up more than 7% of the US population; they are of Mexican origin living in areas once part of Mexico – Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California.
The most popular name for the red, white and blue national flag of the United Station is the Stars and Stripes. The 13 stripes typify the original 13 States; the 50 stars represent the 50 States. The design of the flag (stars) was changing with the number of states coming into the Union. On June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress resolved the flag with 13 stripes and 13 stars representing a new constellation.
The US flag flies over the White House, the Capitol. The House of Representatives of the Capitol wing when the House is in session and over the senate wing when the senate is in session.
The Navy Jack, a blue flag with white stars, stands for the United States when ever it flies from a U.S. Navy ship.
Answer the questions:
1. What are the states bounded on the north, on the west, on the east, and on the south by?
2. What is the population of the USA?
3. What names of the USA flags do you know? Where can we see them?
The US System of Government
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The District of Columbia is the territory of the city of Washington, the national capital. Washington, D.C. lies between two states: Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River, which divides the city into two parts. This place was selected personally by the 1st President of the United States George Washington. In 1791 he purchased the land from private owners.
Washington, D.C. is the seat of The Federal Government. It is made up of three branches: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch.
● The Executive Branch
It consists of: the President, the Vice-President and the Presidents Cabinet. The function of the Executive Branch is to carry out the laws of the nation. The President and the Vice-President are chosen in a national election for a 4-year term of office and may be reelected for a second time. They must be native born citizens, at least 35 years old, and a member of a political party. In the USA there are 2 major parties: the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and many small parties. The President’s Cabinet is chosen by the President. Most of them are called Secretaries: the Secretaries of State, Agriculture, Labour, Transportation etc.
● The Legislative Branch
Congress is where the laws are made and adopted. Congress is made up of 2 houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators elected 2 from each of the 50 States. They are elected for 6 years regardless of their population. In the House of Representatives the members are elected for only 2 years, their number depends upon the states population.
● The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is headed by the Supreme Court which settles any disputes involving the national government or disputes between two or more states.
The State Governments follow the same pattern as the Federal Government. Each state has an Executive Branch headed by the Governor, a Legislative Branch and a Judicial Branch.
Answer the questions:
1. What do you know about the capital of the USA?
2. What Branches of the USA Federal Government do you know?
3. Whom does the Executive Branch consist of?
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4. Who can be the President and the Vice-President?
5. What functions does the Legislative Branch perform?
6. What is the head of the Judicial Branch?
7. Who is the head in the State Governments?
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