The official name is United States of America (U.S.A.). The country's name was formalized in the Declaration of Independence of 1776.

The name "America" was coined by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in 1507 in honor of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The term "United States" highlights the union of sovereign states under a federal government.

The United States is located in North America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is the third largest country in the world in territorial extent.

It borders Canada to the north (the world's longest land border) and Mexico to the south. Its territory includes the non-contiguous state of Alaska, northwest of Canada, and the Hawaiian Islands in the Central Pacific.

The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia). D.C. is a federal district, not part of any state, and is the center of government.

Although New York and Los Angeles are larger cities by population, Washington, D.C., is the political and diplomatic center of the country. The metropolitan area has a population of over **6.3 million inhabitants**.

The United States is a Federal Constitutional Republic with a system of separation of powers (checks and balances):

• Executive Branch: Headed by the President, indirectly elected by the Electoral College for a four-year term, with a two-term limit.
• Legislative Branch: The U.S. Congress, bicameral, composed of the Senate (100 members) and the House of Representatives (435 members).
• Judicial Branch: Led by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

The federal system grants ample sovereignty to the 50 states.

The United States shares land borders with two countries and possesses the world's longest land border (with Canada).

• Canada (8,891 km): Extends across most of the territory.
• Mexico (3,152 km): Crucial for commerce and migration.

The country has an extensive coastline on the **Atlantic** and **Pacific Oceans**, the **Gulf of Mexico**, and the **Caribbean Sea**, vital for global trade.

The United States does not have an official federal language. However, English is the predominant language in government, education, and business, and most states have adopted it as their official language.

The country is home to great linguistic diversity, with Spanish being the **second most spoken language** due to the large Hispanic population. Federal law guarantees the right to services and information in other languages when necessary.

The United States guarantees **freedom of worship** and the separation of Church and State through the **First Amendment**. The country is known for its high religious diversity and a strong index of affiliation.

• Christianity: It is the predominant religion, including **Protestants** (majority), **Catholics**, and **Mormons**.
• Other Major Religions: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
• No Affiliation: The group of "non-religious" (atheists, agnostics, nothing in particular) is the **second largest**, especially among younger generations.

The official currency is the U.S. Dollar ($), whose **ISO code is USD**. It is divided into **100 cents**.

The Dollar is the **most important international reserve currency in the world** and is issued by the Federal Reserve (Fed). It is the legal tender for all transactions and has a direct impact on global trade.