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United States Government 1996
federal republic; strong democratic tradition
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Administrative divisions:
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, 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
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston
Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana
Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US has administered the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political
relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is
a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986);
Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1
October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the
Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective
21 October 1986)
4 July 1776 (from England)
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
18 years of age; universal
chief of state and head of government:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992
(next to be held 5 November 1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON
(Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT
(Independent) 19.0%, other 0.1%
Cabinet; appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) Republican Party
54, Democratic Party 46
House of Representatives:
elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (435 total) Republican Party
231, Democratic Party 203, independent 1
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Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman; Jeanie AUSTIN,
co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee
chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD,
ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50
small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of
six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars
represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number
of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
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