The United States is composed of 50 states and one Federal District, the District of Columbia. Forty-eight contiguous states - all states except Alaska and Hawaii - are called the United States or contiguous "lower 48 (in)" and occupy most of central North America. Alaska is separated from the contiguous U.S. by Canada, and together they form the continental United States. Hawaii, the fiftieth state, is located in the Pacific.
The map shows against the fifty states, territories, and highlights the census regions of the United States. The District of Columbia does not appear.
In addition to the territories named on the card, the U.S. also include several other territories. Palmyra Atoll is an unincorporated territory, but it is uninhabited. The Minor Outlying Islands United States of uninhabited islands and atolls in the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. In addition, the Navy has established a major naval base in Guantánamo Bay in Cuba since 1898 and on the atoll Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean since 1971.-1.- Hilton Head Vacation Rentals -

The United States is a federal republic presidential bicameral. The form of government is that of representative democracy: the right to vote is granted to U.S. citizens over 18 years, it is not mandatory. U.S. citizens are governed at three levels: the federal level since the capital Washington, DC, the state level and local level (counties, municipalities). Currency, foreign policy, military and foreign trade within the federal government. The country consists of fifty federal states which have full sovereignty in many areas: justice, education, transportation, etc.. Each of the 50 states has its own flag, its governor, its Congress and its government. The legislation differs from one district to another. The U.S. Constitution is the oldest modern constitution still in force (1787). Supplemented by the Bill of Rights and many amendments, it guarantees individual rights to U.S. citizens.