United States of America (Our Revolution)

The United States of America (commonly referred to as the United States, the U.S., the Colonies, or America) is a federal constitutional republic comprising 38 states, a federal district, and 19 territories as of 1841. The country spans both American continents, where its thirty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by the Arctic to the north and the South Sea to the south. The Greenland Territory is in the north-east of the continent.

At 42.5 million km2 and with about 56 million people, the United States is the largest country by total area. The United States is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries, and the cession of european colonies. The U.S. economy is the largest national economy in the world, by both nominal and per capita GDP.

The nation was founded by thirteen colonies of Great Britain located along the Atlantic seaboard. On July 4, 1776, they issued the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and their formation of a cooperative union. The rebellious states defeated Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War, the first successful colonial war of independence. The Philadelphia Convention adopted the current United States Constitution on September 17, 1787; its ratification the following year made the states part of a single republic with a strong central government. The Bill of Rights, comprising ten constitutional amendments guaranteeing many fundamental civil rights and freedoms, was ratified in 1791.

In 1803, the United States acquired land from France through the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the nation's size. Disputes between Great Britain over impressment of American sailors and continued undermining of American Sovereignty ultimately culminated in the Great American War of 1812. The American's victory prevented a the dissolution of the republic and led to the end of European Colonialism in the Americas. By the 1840s, the national economy was the world's largest.

Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article One: Legislative power
Article One establishes the Legislative branch as a bicameral Legislative body with the lower House of Representatives, and the upper house the Senate. Senators still must be elected every six years and Congressmen every two, but now they each have term limits for which they can serve. Senators have a limit of four terms, and Congressmen have ten. The argument, presented by Theo, is to ensure that no member of Congress will stay in power for more than a generation and therefore stay in touch with the American People. The article also establishes direct election of members of Congress.

Article Two: Executive Power
Article Two also is very similar to its version in OTL, except that Presidents have a limit of five terms. Theo attempted to lower it to two, but could not convince Madison or Hamilton that the Presidency would be powerful enough to make such a limit necessary.

Article Three: Judicial Power
This article is drastically different because it directly establishes the concept of Judicial Review, but includes a provision that Judges must be confirmed by the entire Congress, not just the Senate. Judges are not given term limits, but can only serve until age 75.

Bill of Rights

 * Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, and Protest are Protected
 * Amendment 2: Right to bear arms.
 * Amendment 3: Slavery is made illegal.
 * Amendment 4: Right to privacy: No unwarranted search and seizures, and no quartering of soldiers in private homes.
 * Amendment 5: Right to a speedy public trial with legal counsel, with no double jeopardy, and ensures a trial by a jury, and rights of the accused.
 * Amendment 6: No cruel or unusual punishment, or excessive bail.
 * Amendment 7: Trial by jury for civil cases.
 * Amendment 8: Reserved Rights to the States.
 * Amendment 9: Any rights not mentioned are rights of the people.
 * Amendment 10: All rights expressed in this bill extend to every American Citizen. (defines US citizen as anyone born in United states or immigrates legally).

Subsequent Amendments

 * Amendment 11: Authorizes unapportioned federal taxes on income.
 * Amendment 12: Establishes direct election of senators.
 * Amendment 13: Limits president to two terms.
 * Amendment 14: Prohibits the federal government and the states from requiring the payment of a tax as a qualification for voting for federal officials.

List of US Presidents
1 Died while Vice President.

Political Divisions
The United States is a federal union of thirty-eight states. The original thirteen states were the successors of the thirteen colonies that rebelled against British rule. Early in the country's history, with Ontario and Quebec gaining statehood shortly after the signing of the constitution. The three new states of were organized on territory separated from the claims of the existing states: Iroquois from New York; Cherokee from North Carolina; and Maine from Massachusetts. Most of the other states have been carved from territories obtained through war or purchase by the U.S. government. One set of exceptions comprises the indian nations, Iroquois, Navajo, Lakhota, Micmacia and Cherokee: each was an independent republic before joining the union. The most recent state—Columbia—achieved statehood on August 21, 1841. The states do not have the right to secede from the union.

The states compose less than half of the vast bulk of the U.S. land mass; while the nineteen territories make up the majority of the country. Those born in the territories possess U.S. citizenship.

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