United States of America (An Independent in 2000)

The US in 2012
The US has been the most powerful economic power since the end of the Second World War, and have maintained their status as a Military and Political Superpower even with the rise of the European Union, China, and India. After soaking in the economic growth and prosperity of the 1990s, the turn of beginning of the 21st century has been marked by great strides in socioeconomic, technological, and cultural advancement.

Demographics
The United States stretches from the frozen tundra of the Arctic circle, to the tropical jungles of Central America. US States
 * Alaska (Alaska, Yukon, the North West Territories, and Nunavut)
 * Cascadia (Western Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and the North Coast of California),
 * California (Most of Northern California, and North Western Nevada.)
 * Baja California (Baja Peninsula, Southern California, and Southern Nevada)
 * Dakota (Most of the old Dakota Territory)
 * Prairie (The Canadian Prairie Provinces)
 * Heartland (Kansas, Nebraska, and most of Oklahoma)
 * Colorado (Colorado, and Lower Wyoming)
 * Lincoln (Eastern halves of Washington and Oregon, and Idaho)
 * Missouri (Missouri and Upper Arkansas)
 * Iowa
 * Washington D.C.
 * Ontario (Ontario and part of Manitoba)
 * Quebec
 * New England (Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Upper New York)
 * New York (Most of New York State, New Jersey, and Easter Pennsylvania)
 * Chesapeake (Delaware, Maryland, Eastern Virginia)
 * Ohio (Most of the Ohio River Valley)
 * Illinois (Illinois, part of Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota)
 * Michigan(Michigan and part of Indiana)
 * Louisiana (Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, Lower Arkansas.)
 * Dixie (Georgia, Alabama, Part of Mississippi)
 * Appalachia (Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, Western Virginia, and West Virginia)
 * Panama
 * Deseret (Utah and Eastern Nevada)
 * Carolina (North and South Carolina)
 * Florida (Most of Southern Florida)
 * Cuba
 * Texas (Texas and part of Oklahoma)
 * Aztlan (Oaxaca Veracruz, Chiapas, Puebla, Guerrero, Tabasco and Morelos)
 * Yucatan (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche)
 * Nuevo Mexico (Arizona and New Mexico)
 * Mexico (Mexico State, Guanajuato, Hildago, Michoacan, Tlaxcala, Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, Zacatecas, San Luie Potosi, and Queretaro)
 * Sonora (Sonora and Sinalba)
 * Rio Grande (Territory of the old Republic of the Rio Grande)
 * Puerto Rico
 * Micronesia
 * Marshal Islands
 * Pacifica
 * Hawaii
 * Bahamas
 * Nicaragua
 * Costa Rica
 * Manitoba
 * Guatemala
 * Honduras
 * Panama
 * Jamaica
 * Caribbean
 * Durango (Durango and Chihuahua)
 * Hispaniola

Internal Organization
After the incorporation of the former nations of North America under the US Constitution, the US began a plan of integration that would establish new states, and dissolve old ones. Currently, all US territory has been reorganized under the State Border Reform Act.

Politics
The US is organized entirely under State divisions, their are no longer any associated territories of the US. Ever since the election of President Charles Edwards, Independents have established themselves as the majority force in American politics, however the Libertarian, Democrat, and Republican Party's still maintain some standing. The Peace Corps has been intergraded as a quasi-military organization, and unlike OTL, there is no DHS. Currently integration is the chief issue of the day, rivaled only by the development of space, and the completion of the UN Millennium Goals.

Constitutional Amendments:
 * Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, and Protest are Protected
 * Amendment 2: Right to bear arms.
 * Amendment 3: No quartering of soldiers in private homes.
 * Amendment 4: No unwarranted search and seizures.
 * Amendment 5: No double jeopardy, and ensures a trial by a jury, and rights of the accused.
 * Amendment 6: Right to a speedy public trial with legal counsel.
 * Amendment 7: Trial by jury for civil cases.
 * Amendment 8: No cruel or unusual punishment, or excessive bail.
 * Amendment 9: Any rights not mentioned are rights of the people.
 * Amendment 10: Reserved Rights to the States.
 * Amendment 11: Judicial separation of states and federal government.
 * Amendment 12: Establishes the Vice President for a vote by the electoral college.
 * Amendment 13: Abolishes Slavery.
 * Amendment 14: States must abide by constitutional law, and defines anyone born in the US as a US citizen.
 * Amendment 15: Former slaves can vote, and voters cannot be discriminated against based on race.
 * Amendment 16: Income Tax.
 * Amendment 17: Direct Election of Senators.
 * Amendment 18: Prohibition
 * Amendment 19: Women's right to vote.
 * Amendment 20: Shortens lame duck period, and establishes VP as Presidential successor.
 * Amendment 21: Repeals 18th Amendment.
 * Amendment 22: 2 Presidential terms established as term limits.
 * Amendment 23: DC gains presidential electors.
 * Amendment 24: No taxes for voting.
 * Amendment 25: Provides for temporary removal of President and temporary transfer of powers to VP.
 * Amendment 26: 18 year old voting age.
 * Amendment 27: Limits congressional pay raises.
 * Amendment 28: Creates a balanced budget, but ensures deficit spending during a time of economic crisis.
 * Amendment 29: Right to quality education.
 * Amendment 30: Right to quality health care, and social security.
 * Amendment 31: Abolishes Electoral College.
 * Amendment 32: Right to a Job.
 * Amendment 33: Right to a Home
 * Amendment 34: Abolishes 16th Amendment.

Economy
The US economy is the strongest in the world, and is rivaled by none. Fueled by the "Space Boom," the US economy has an unlimited supply of cheap natural resources to produce very high quality goods for very low prices. This is further maintained by the increase in robotic assembly, and a growing workforce of engineers, chemists, and roboticist. Thanks to the sharp drop in value of material goods, the US middle class has shrunken the rich/poor divide to a sliver of its former self. And with almost all taxes abolished, replaced by government benefits, the US economy is beginning to look more socialist in some sectors, and more libertarian in others.

Faith
With the election of President Edwards in 2000, and the revelation of his much more Agnostic beliefs, the United States never caved in to the religious right as it did in OTL. Subsequently religion in general is becoming more of a non-issue, and a matter of personal preference rather than the political force it is today. Christianity is actually on the decline, but only just. To counter this, Billy Graham and Pat Robertson began their "Coast to Coast" mission, preaching the bible across the USA in person, which has had next to no effect of slowing this trend, and it remains to be seen whether or not it can be stopped or reversed.

International Relations
The US has very strong ties to the European Union and Russia, but relations with China are growing cold, and much of the middle-east is still hesitant to call the United States their friend. Though, US involvement with the United Nations is much stronger than it is in OTL.

Military
The US Military consists of four individual branches. the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the The Peace Corps. The Military is slowly being reconfigured to a much more strategic force, with less personnel utilizing better equipment, and greater intel.

Air Force: Currently a four aircraft air force, utilizing the F-35 Lightning II, the F-22 Raptor, the B-1 Lancer, and the B-2 Spirit. All of these aircraft are either state of the art, or have undergone retrofitting with the new engine technology of the 1990s. The Air Force is also employing a large array of UCAVs, most notably the MQ-45N Sparrow-hawk, MQ-47B Pegasus, and the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Army: The US Army has now fully integrated its Future Combat Systems program into what is unquestionably the most deadly land force one the planet. Utilizing the M2001 NLOS Howitzer, the M1209 Command Control Vehicle, the MULE, the Light Utility Vehicle, the M1-A2 Abrams Tank, The PD-3 Pitt Bull, and the ST-1 Grizzly, the US army has the most advanced ground vehicles at their disposal. With soldiers employing powered, impact resistant armor and M8 assault rifles, few can match the US Infantrymen.

M2001 Non-Line of Sight Cannon: Put into service in 2007, the NLOS Howitzer is a self propelled cannon capable of discharging one 155 mm round every 20 seconds. The rounds are able to correct their course in flight, or change course based on new orders. Like all US projectiles, it utilizes electronically fired case-less weapons.

M1209 Command and Control Vehicle: Built as an on-the-ground mobile command center, the M1209 gives commanders on the ground direct control over their units in combat from any given point.

M1-A2 Abrams Tank: While essentially identical to its predecessor the M1-A1, the A2 has been modified for greater fuel efficiency, and electronic firing capability. The Abrams is to be the last tank ever put in production.

ST-1 Grizzly: The world's first "Standing Tank," the Grizzly was put into full service in 2010 to replace the Humvee and Mortar as a light assault platform. Armed with four 30 mm Metal Storm guns on its arms and one 70 mm Non-Line-of-Sight Mortar on its back, the Grizzly acts as a general assault platform for tight spaced urban environments, though has proven itself in open plane warfare.

PD-3 Pitt Bull: The first full fledged ground combat drone, "the Pitt," as it is commonly known, is equipped with six small rockets, and one 20 mm automatic weapon. While fully autonomous, the Pitt is always paired with a human commander, or master.

Navy: The US Navy is in a process of retiring most of its fleet in favor of smaller lighter ships that can handle close shore support, as well as blue water combat. Most of the old sub fleet has been retired for the new Virginia Class Attack Sub, used mostly for infiltration and strategic strikes. The DDG-1000 or Zumwalt class destroyer has replaced most of the old destroyer fleet, while the Nimitz Class Carriers are simply being modified for smaller crews.
 * Marines:The US Marine Corps has received the same armor and load outs as the Army, though they utilize the Navy's new New York Class beach stormers, and the V-22 Osprey for sea to land missions.

Peace Corps:While not armed nor in practice a military force, the US Peace Corps are currently on par in personnel with the Marines. Utilizing Military issue vehicles and equipment, the Peace Corps is used mainly for disaster relief and foreign aid program. Most of the Peace Corps is currently deployed in Africa on humanitarian aid missions, and developmental missions of third world societies.