Text 3: The United States of America

The continental United States stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from Canada to Mexico. Alaska is the largest state. Separated by Canada, it is washed by the Pacific and the Arctic Oceans. Hawaii occupies an archipelago in the Pacific. The area of the United States is 9.83 ml km². The Mississippi River is the longest river system. Alaska's Mount McKinley is the country's tallest peak.

The capital is Washington, D.C. The official language of the country is English. The US population is over 300 ml people. The flag of the USA is called “Stars and Stripes”. 50 stars represent the current states, 13 stripes stand for the original states. The national emblem is a bald eagle. The national anthem is “the Star Spangled Banner”.

The United States has a capitalist mixed economy. It is based on natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and a high productivity. The United States GDP makes up 20% of the gross world product. The private sector is the most important part of the economy. The economy is postindustrial; the service sector contributes over 75% of GDP. The main business fields are wholesale and retail trade, finance and insurance.

The United States remains an industrial power. Chemical products are the leading manufacturing field. The USA is the third largest producer of oil in the world. Agriculture accounts for 60% of the world's agricultural production.

The USA is a federal constitutional republic. It comprises 50 states and a federal district. The federal government has three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. It is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution grants numerous powers to Congress. For example, it must provide for common defense and general welfare of the US and make laws necessary for that.

In fact the USA has a two-party system. The two leading political parties are the Democrats and the Republicans.

The executive branch consists of the President and his delegates. The President is both the head of state and the Government. He is themilitary commander-in-chief. He manages national affairs and the work of the federal government. The Vice President is the second-highest executive official of the government. The members of the President's Cabinet are responsible for administering various departments of state and executing federal laws and regulations.

The structure of the judicial system includes the Supreme Court, 13 courts of appeals, 94 district courts, and two courts of special jurisdiction.

The USA is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Organisation of American States. It also supports the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and the G8.

*Appendix: № 7

Questions for discussion:

1. Where is the USA situated?
2. What is the population of the USA?
3. What is the tallest peak of the USA?
4. What is the capital of the USA?
5. What type of economy does the USA have?
6. What industries are most developed in the USA?
7. What does the executive branch of power include?
8. Who represents the legislative power in the USA?
9. What does the judicial system of the USA include?
10. What international organisations is the USA a member of?

Дата добавления: 2015-10-16