The United States is a union of 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and Hawaii, with a complex political and territorial structure. The federal government is made up of Congress, which is composed of representatives sent from the states. The nation's capital, Washington D.C., is a stateless limbo land under the control of Congress, meaning it doesn't get a vote in anything.
The U.S. also administers numerous American Indian reservations, which are treated as foreign nations. The territories of the U.S. include Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These territories are self-governing to some extent and have their own constitutions, but the U.S. constitution doesn't automatically apply to them. The people in these territories are American citizens, but they don't have representation in Congress.
There are also unincorporated organized territories, such as the Palmyra Atoll, which is currently an uninhabited nature reserve. Unorganized territories include islands like Howland Island, Navassa Island, and Wake Island, which were acquired under the Guano Islands Act. The Palmyra Atoll is an unorganized incorporated territory, where the U.S. constitution applies.
American Samoa, home to 55,000 people, is a unique case where American Samoans are American Nationals and can live in the states but can't vote in presidential elections unless they go through the immigration process.
Finally, the U.S. has a "Compact of Free Association" with three tiny nations: Palu, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. These nations have UN seats and can live and work in the U.S., but the U.S. provides economic support and military defense in return for being allowed to build military bases there.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The United States is composed of 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
2. There are 48 contiguous states.
3. The United States started with 13 states.
4. Statehood is permanent.
5. Congress is composed of representatives from each state.
6. Washington D.C. is not a state but a separate entity under the control of Congress.
7. Residents of Washington D.C. do not have voting representation in Congress.
8. American Indian reservations are not part of any state but are administered by the federal government.
9. Puerto Rico is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States.
10. Puerto Rico has self-governing authority but the U.S. Constitution does not apply in full.
11. Puerto Rico has a population of 3.7 million people, which is more than 21 states.
12. Puerto Rico is treated like a state in most ways but is not officially a state.
13. Other organized, unincorporated territories of the United States include Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
14. These territories are self-governing but do not have voting representation in Congress.
15. Residents of these territories are American citizens.
16. Unincorporated unorganized territories of the United States include Howland Island, Navassa Island, Wake Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Reef, Serranilla Bank, and Bajo Nuevo Bank.
17. These islands have no local government and are uninhabited.
18. The Guano Islands Act allowed the United States to claim these islands.
19. The Palmyra Atoll is an unorganized incorporated territory, meaning the U.S. Constitution applies but there is no local government.
20. American Samoa is an unincorporated territory with a local government, but its residents are not American citizens but American nationals.
21. American Samoans cannot vote in presidential elections unless they go through the immigration process.
22. American Samoa has a unique status among U.S. territories.
23. There are three countries with a "Compact of Free Association" with the United States: Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
24. These countries have their own governments and UN seats but receive economic and military support from the United States.
25. Citizens of these countries can live and work in the United States and vice versa.