List of basic United States topics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For an alphabetical index of this subject, see the List of United States-related articles.

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to its east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait, and the state of Hawaii is in the mid-Pacific. The United States also possesses several territories, or insular areas, scattered around the Caribbean and Pacific.

The following list of topics is provided as an overview of and introduction to the United States of America:

Contents 1 Geography of the United States 1.1 Environment of the United States 1.1.1 Geographic features of the United States 1.2 Regions of the United States 1.2.1 Physiographic divisions of the United States 1.3 Administrative divisions of the United States 1.3.1 States of the United States 1.3.2 Territories of the United States 1.3.2.1 Incorporated organized territories 1.3.2.2 Incorporated unorganized territories 1.3.2.3 Unincorporated organized territories 1.3.2.4 Unincorporated unorganized territories 1.3.3 Geography of the states and territories 1.4 Demography of the United States 1.4.1 Demographics of the states and territories 1.5 Climate of the United States 2 Government and politics in the United States 2.1 Federal government 2.1.1 Legislative branch 2.1.2 Executive branch 2.1.2.1 Federal executive departments 2.1.3 Judicial branch 2.2 State and territory governments 2.3 Politics of the states and territories 2.4 Military 2.5 Intelligence Organizations 3 Law of the United States 4 History of the United States 4.1 Period-coverage 4.1.1 History of the states and territories 5 Culture of the United States 5.1 American cuisine 5.1.1 Cuisine of the states and territories 5.2 The Arts in the United States 5.2.1 Music in the United States 5.2.1.1 Genres 5.2.1.2 Music in the states and territories 5.3 Sports in the United States 5.3.1 List of Major Sports Leagues in the United States 5.3.2 Sports by state and territory 6 Education in the United States 6.1 Education in the states and territories 7 Economy of the United States 7.1 Economy by state and territory 8 Infrastructure of the United States 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

• International rankings of the United States

[edit] Geography of the United States

Main article: Geography of the United States

• The United States is: a country
• Location:
  • Northern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere
    • North America
• Population:
• Size:
• Atlas of the United States
• Cities of the United States, by population

[edit] Environment of the United States

Main article: Environment of the United States

• Climate of the United States
• Ecology of the United States
  • Ecoregions in the United States
  • Renewable energy in the United States
• Geology of the United States
• National parks of the United States
• Protected areas of the United States
• Wildlife of the United States
  • Flora of the United States
  • Fauna of the United States
    • Birds of the United States
    • Mammals of the United States

[edit] Geographic features of the United States

Main article: Landforms of the United States

• Fjords of the United States
• Glaciers of the United States
• Islands of the United States
• Lakes of the United States
• Mountains of the United States
  • Appalachian Mountains
  • Cascade Range
  • Rocky Mountains
  • Volcanoes in the United States
• Rivers of the United States
  • Columbia River
  • Colorado River
  • Hudson River
  • Mississippi River
  • Missouri River
  • Potomac River
  • Rio Grande
  • Waterfalls of the United States
• Valleys of the United States
• World Heritage Sites in the United States

[edit] Regions of the United States

Main article: List of regions of the United States

• East Coast of the United States
• West Coast of the United States

• New England
• Mid-Atlantic
• The South
• Midwest
• Great Plains
• Northwest
• Southwest

v • d • e Geographic regions of the United States 4 Regions 9 Census Bureau Divisions · Other regions Northeast New England · Mid-Atlantic · East Coast · Atlantic Northeast Midwest E North Central · W North Central · Great Lakes · Great Plains · Upper Midwest South South Atlantic · South Central States · Southeast · Upper · Deep · Gulf Coast West Pacific/West Coast · Mountain · Northwest · Southwest · Pacific Northwest · Great Basin Other North · East · East Coast · Central · Coastal

[edit] Physiographic divisions of the United States

The geography of the United States varies across their immense area. Within the contential U.S., eight distinct physiographic divisions exist, though each is composed of several smaller physiographic subdivisions.^[1] These major divisions are:

• Laurentian Upland - part of the Canadian Shield that extends into the northern United States Great Lakes area.
• Atlantic Plain - the coastal regions of the eastern and southern parts includes the continental shelf, the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast.
• Appalachian Highlands - lying on the eastern side of the United States, it includes the Appalachian Mountains, Adirondacks and New England province.
• Interior Plains - part of the interior contentintal United States, it includes much of what is called the Great Plains.
• Interior Highlands - also part of the interior contentintal United States, this division includes the Ozark Plateau.
• Rocky Mountain System - one branch of the Cordilleran system lying far inland in the western states.
• Intermontane Plateaus - also divided into the Columbia Plateau, the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Province, it is a system of plateaus, basins, ranges and gorges between the Rocky and Pacific Mountain Systems. It is the setting for the Grand Canyon, the Great Basin and Death Valley.
• Pacific Mountain System - the coastal mountain ranges and features in the west coast of the United States.

[edit] Administrative divisions of the United States

[edit] States of the United States

Main articles: U.S. state and Administrative division

At the Declaration of Independence, the United States consisted of 13 states, former colonies of the United Kingdom. In the following years, the number of states has grown steadily due to expansion to the west, conquest and purchase of lands by the American government, and division of existing states to the current number of 50 United States:

Alabama (AL) Alaska (AK) Arizona (AZ) Arkansas (AR) California (CA) Colorado (CO) Connecticut (CT) Delaware (DE) Florida (FL) Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI) Idaho (ID) Illinois (IL) Indiana (IN) Iowa (IA) Kansas (KS) Kentucky (KY) Louisiana (LA) Maine (ME) Maryland (MD)

Massachusetts (MA) Michigan (MI) Minnesota (MN) Mississippi (MS) Missouri (MO) Montana (MT) Nebraska (NE) Nevada (NV) New Hampshire (NH) New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM) New York (NY) North Carolina (NC) North Dakota (ND) Ohio (OH) Oklahoma (OK) Oregon (OR) Pennsylvania (PA) Rhode Island (RI) South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD) Tennessee (TN) Texas (TX) Utah (UT) Vermont (VT) Virginia (VA) Washington (WA) West Virginia (WV) Wisconsin (WI) Wyoming (WY)

[edit] Territories of the United States

Main article: Territories of the United States

• Territorial evolution of the United States

[edit] Incorporated organized territories

none since 1959

[edit] Incorporated unorganized territories

• Palmyra Atoll

[edit] Unincorporated organized territories

• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands (commonwealth)
• Puerto Rico (commonwealth)
• United States Virgin Islands

[edit] Unincorporated unorganized territories

• American Samoa, technically unorganized, but self-governing under a constitution last revised in 1967
• Baker Island, uninhabited
• Howland Island, uninhabited
• Jarvis Island, uninhabited
• Johnston Atoll, uninhabited
• Kingman Reef, uninhabited
• Petrel Islands, uninhabited
• Serranilla Bank, uninhabited
• Midway Islands, no indigenous inhabitants, currently included in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
• Navassa Island, uninhabited (claimed by Haiti)
• Wake Atoll consisting of Peale, Wake and Wilkes Islands^[2], no indigenous inhabitants, only contractor personnel (claimed by the Marshall Islands)

[edit] Geography of the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Demography of the United States

Main article: Demography of the United States

[edit] Demographics of the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Climate of the United States

v • d • e List of United States hurricanes United States Arizona · California · Delaware · Florida · Hawaii · New England · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Texas

v • d • e Climate of the United States States Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming Federal district Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) Insular areas American Samoa · Guam · Northern Mariana Islands · Puerto Rico · U.S. Virgin Islands

[edit] Government and politics in the United States

Main articles: Government of the United States and Politics of the United States

• Flag of the United States
• Political parties in the United States
• Elections in the United States
• Voting rights in the United States
• Elections in the United States
• List of political parties in the United States
  • Democratic Party
    • History of the United States Democratic Party
  • Republican Party
    • History of the United States Republican Party
  • Green Party
  • Libertarian Party
  • Reform Party
  • Constitution Party
  • Socialist Party USA
• Political divisions of the United States
• Canadian and American politics compared
• International Politics of the United States
• Politics of the Southern United States

[edit] Federal government

Main article: Federal government of the United States

• United States Constitution

[edit] Legislative branch

Further information: Legislative branch

• United States Congress
  • United States Senate
    • President pro tempore of the United States Senate
  • United States House of Representatives
    • Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

[edit] Executive branch

Further information: Executive branch

• Head of state and head of government: President of the United States, George H. Bush
  • Vice President of the United States, Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney

[edit] Federal executive departments

Further information: List of United States federal agencies

All departments are listed by their present-day name and only departments with past or present cabinet-level status are listed. Order of succession applies only to within the cabinet; the vice president has always been first in the line of succession, and the Speaker of the House and the President pro tem of the Senate have at times been included.

Department	Creation	Order of succession	Modifications since creation	2007 Budget in billions of dollars	Employees (2007)
State	1789	1	Initially named "Department of Foreign Affairs"	9.96	30,266
Treasury	1789	2		11.10	115,897
Defense	1947	3	Initially named "National Military Establishment"	439.30	3,000,000
Justice	1870	4	Position of Attorney General created in 1789, but had no department until 1870	23.40	112,557
Interior	1849	5		10.70	71,436
Agriculture	1889	6		77.60	109,832
Commerce	1903	7	Originally named Commerce and Labor; Labor later separated	6.20	36,000
Labor	1913	8		59.70	17,347
Health and Human Services	1953	9	Originally named Health, Education, and Welfare; Education later separated	543.20	67,000
Housing and Urban Development	1965	10		46.20	10,600
Transportation	1966	11		58.00	58,622
Energy	1977	12		21.50	116,100
Education	1979	13		62.80	4,487
Veterans Affairs	1989	14		73.20	235,000
Homeland Security	2002	15		44.6	208,000
Total budget (fiscal year 2007):				1,523.42	4,193,144

[edit] Judicial branch

Further information: Judicial branch

• United States federal courts
  • United States Supreme Court
    • Chief Justice of the United States
  • United States court of appeals
  • United States district court

[edit] State and territory governments

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Politics of the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Military

Main article: United States military

• United States Army
  • United States Army Reserve
• United States Navy
  • United States Navy Reserve
• United States Marines
  • Marine Forces Reserve
• United States Air Force
  • Air Force Reserve Command
• United States Coast Guard
  • United States Coast Guard Reserve
• United States National Guard
  • Army National Guard
  • Air National Guard
  • Naval militia
  • State Defense Forces

[edit] Intelligence Organizations

Main article: United States Intelligence Community

• Central Intelligence Agency
• Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
• United States Army Military Intelligence
• Defense Intelligence Agency
• Marine Corps Intelligence Activity
• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
• National Reconnaissance Office
• National Security Agency
• Office of Naval Intelligence
• Coast Guard Intelligence
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Bureau of Intelligence and Research
• Office of Intelligence and Analysis
• Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
• Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence

[edit] Law of the United States

Main article: Law of the United States

• Constitution of the United States
  • United States Bill of Rights
  • Separation of powers under the United States Constitution
• Law enforcement in the United States
• State law
• Local ordinance

[edit] History of the United States

Main articles: History of the United States and Timeline of the United States history

• Territorial evolution of the United States
• Westward expansion
• Overseas expansion
• Diplomatic history
• Military history
• Industrial history
• Economic history
• Cultural history
• History of the South
• Civil Rights (1896-1954)
• Civil Rights (1955-1968)
• Women's history

[edit] Period-coverage

• Pre-Columbian era
• Colonial period
• 1776 to 1789
• 1789 to 1849
• 1849 to 1865
• 1865 to 1918
• 1918 to 1945
• 1945 to 1964
• 1964 to 1980
• 1980 to 1991
• 1991 to present

[edit] History of the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Culture of the United States

Main article: Culture of the United States

• American humor
• Languages of the United States
• National symbols of the United States
• Religion in the United States

[edit] American cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of the United States

See also: List of United States dishes

• Cajun cuisine
• Louisiana Creole cuisine
• Midwestern cuisine
• Native American cuisine
• Southern cuisine
• Southwestern cuisine
• Tex-Mex cuisine

[edit] Cuisine of the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] The Arts in the United States

• Literature of the United States
• Music of the United States
• Theatre in the United States
• Cinema of the United States
• Television in the United States
• Visual arts of the United States

[edit] Music in the United States

Main article: Music in the United States

[edit] Genres

• Blues music
• Gospel music
• Jazz
• Country music
• R&B music
• Soul music
• Rock
• Heavy metal
• Punk rock
• Hip hop

[edit] Music in the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Sports in the United States

Main article: Sports in the United States

• Football in the United States
• Baseball in the United States
• Little League Baseball
• Soccer in the United States

[edit] List of Major Sports Leagues in the United States

Main article: Major North American professional sports leagues

American Hockey League (AHL) American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) Arena Football League (AFL) Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Major League Baseball (MLB) Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Major League Soccer (MLS) National Basketball Association (NBA) National Football League (NFL)

National Hockey League (NHL) United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) National Lacrosse League (NLL) United States Tennis Association (USTA) United Indoor Football (UIF) United States Australian Football League (USAFL) Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) Professional Inline Hockey Association (PIHA) Rugby Super League (RSL) American National Rugby League (AMNRL)

[edit] Sports by state and territory

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Education in the United States

Main article: Education in the United States

[edit] Education in the states and territories

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Economy of the United States

Main article: Economy of the United States

• Economic rank: 1st (first)

• United States Dollar
• North American Free Trade Agreement
• World Trade Organization
• Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
• Federal Reserve System
• United States public debt
• Wealth in the United States
• Household income in the United States
• Personal income in the United States
• Poverty in the United States
• Income inequality in the United States
• American Dream
• Balance of payments
• Economy of Puerto Rico
• American trade
• List of United States companies
• National debt by U.S. presidential terms
• Economic history of the United States
• List of industry trade groups in the United States
• Tourism in the United States

[edit] Economy by state and territory

AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NM - NV - NJ - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY

AS - GU - MP - PR - VI

[edit] Infrastructure of the United States

• Communications in the United States
  • Internet in the United States
• Energy in the United States
• Health care in the United States
• Transportation in the United States
  • Airports in the United States
  • Highway system in the United States
  • Rail transport in the United States
• Water supply and sanitation in the United States

[edit] See also

• English Wikipedia
• List of basic geography topics
• List of basic Canada topics- neighboring country
• List of basic Mexico topics- neighboring country
• List of international rankings
• List of United States-related articles
• List of United States-related topics

• Portal: United States

[edit] References

1. ^ Physiographic Regions. United States Geological Survey (2003-04-17). Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
2. ^ DOI Office of Internal Affairs http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/wakepage.htm

[edit] External links

Find more about United States on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Dictionary definitions
	Textbooks
	Quotations
	Source texts
	Images and media
	News stories
	Learning resources

Government

• Official U.S. Government Web Portal Gateway to governmental sites
• White House Official site of the President of the United States
• Senate Official site of the United States Senate
• House Official site of the United States House of Representatives
• Supreme Court Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Library of Congress Official site of the Library of Congress

Overviews and Data

• Portrait of the United States Overview from the U.S. Information Agency
• United States CIA World Factbook entry
• United States Encyclopaedia Britannica entry
• U.S. Census Housing and Economic Statistics Wide-ranging data from the U.S. Census Bureau
• State Fact Sheets Population, employment, income, and farm data from the U.S. Economic Research Service
• The 50 States of the U.S.A. Collected informational links for each state

History

• Historical Documents Collected by the National Center for Public Policy Research
• U.S. National Mottos: History and Constitutionality Analysis by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
• USA Collected links to historical data

Maps

• National Atlas of the United States Official maps from the U.S. Department of the Interior
• United States Satellite view at WikiMapia (not affiliated with Wikipedia/Wikimedia Foundation)

Other

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Official government site
• United States Travel guide and tourist information from Wikitravel (not affiliated with Wikipedia/Wikimedia Foundation)

v • d • e List resources Topic lists (Basic topic lists) · Glossaries · Countries · People · Timelines