The document provides information about the United States, including its national anthem ("The Star Spangled Banner"), capital (Washington D.C.), largest city (New York City), form of government, three branches of government, details on the House of Representatives, Senate, and Supreme Court, questions about the document, descriptions of the American flag and currency, basic geography, and facts about states and landmarks.

1. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA National Anthem: The star spangled banner

2. The States

3. Which cities do we know? CITY San Francisco Denver Las Vegas New Orleans Chicago STATE California Colorado Nevada Louisiana Illinois

4. Where do we find them?

5. Do we know these Americans?

6. Some Presidents….

7. MAIN FACTS Capital: Washington, D.C. Largest city: New York City Government: Federal constitutional presidential republic President: Barack Obama Vice President: Joe Biden Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain : Declared July 4, 1776 - Current constitution June 21, 1788

8. THE GOVERMENT The federal government is composed of three branches: Legislative : The Congress the Senate the House of Representatives makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment: it can remove members of the government. Executive : The president is the commander-in-chief of the military, can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the members of the Cabinet (subject to Senate approval) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies. Judicial : The Supreme Court and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the president with Senate approval, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional.

9. The Capitol (House of the Congress) The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, each representing a congressional district for a two-year term. House seats are apportioned among the states by population every tenth year. As of the 2000 census, seven states have the minimum of one representative, while California, the most populous state, has fifty-three. The Senate has 100 members with each state having two senators, elected at-large to six-year terms; one third of Senate seats are up for election every other year. The President serves a four-year term and may be elected to the office no more than twice. The president is not elected by direct vote, but by an indirect electoral college system in which the determining votes are apportioned by state. The Supreme Court , led by the Chief Justice of the United States, has nine members, who serve for life.

10. QUESTIONS: 1) Who is the Head of State? 2) How many members are there in Congress? 3) Who has the right to reject a law? 4) Does the Italian President have the same power as the President of the USA? 5) Is the Italian President elected by the people like in the USA?

11. THE AMERICAN FLAG 13 stripes as the colonies who declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776 50 stars as the states building up the Federation

12. THE U.S. CURRENCY COINS 1 CENT (PENNY) 5 CENTS (NICKEL) 10 CENTS (DIME) 25 CENTS (QUARTER)

13. BANKNOTES

15. Geography

16. Questions… What are the names of the five Great Lakes? Which three states are on the west coast of the USA? Which state is North-West of Canada? Which sea is west of the USA?

17. Extreme Facts The biggest state: Alaska (Italy is = Arizona!) The highest mountain is Mount Mckinley in Alaska (6198 m) The longest rivers are Missouri and Mississippi: when they join each other, their combined length is 5,970 km

18. And here's the words: United States of America, National Anthem "Star Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key, 1814 Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

19. What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: " In God is our trust ." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!