United States of America the geographical position

United States of America

the geographical position of the United States of America USA occupy more than 1/3 of the territories of the continent of North America. Area (9, 4 million km 2) are on the fourth place in the world (after the Russian Federation, Canada, China). The United States between 1979 and consists of three non-contiguous parts: 1) the territory of the USA, the size of the territory - 7, 83 million km 2. It borders with Canada and Mexico, is washed by the Pacific ocean to the West and the Gulf of Mexico in the South; 2) Alaska in Northwest North America), occupies 16 % of the country. Area - 1, 53 million km 2. It borders on Canada, washed by the waters of the Arctic and Pacific oceans; 3) Hawaii (24 of the Pacific Islands) are at a distance of 4000 km from the mainland of the country, occupy 0, 2% of the territory of the United States (16, 8 thousand km 2)

USA population The population of the United States of America exceeds three hundred and fifteen million people (the third place in the world, after China and India). Live in the us, about 4. 5% of the world population. The majority of the U. S. population lives in cities and suburbs (approximately 82%, while the world average of 49%). In the USA there are nine cities with population over a million residents, and four cities with populations of more than two million people. The largest cities in USA - new York (over 8 100 000 inhabitants), Los Angeles (over 3 850 000 inhabitants) and Chicago (over 2 700 000 inhabitants)

the U. S. political system According to the Constitution adopted and approved in 1787, the Federal government of the United States given the part of the authority of government. While in the conduct of each individual state is given a greater share of authority. United States of America were established in 1776 when combining the thirteen British colonies The Federal government consists of the legislative, Executive and judicial authorities, acting independently from each other. The Supreme legislative body -- bicameral Congress of the USA: the lower house -- the house of representatives; the upper house -- the Senate. The Supreme Executive authority is the President of the United States. The President -- the head of state, commander in chief of the armed forces (see List of presidents of the USA). There is a post of Vice-President. The Supreme judicial authority -- the U. S. Supreme court. The main political parties -- the Republican and democratic. There also many other smaller parties.

us educational system Education in the United States mostly state. It is controlled and funded on three levels: Federal government, state and local authorities. The level of literacy in the United States and 97 % Children begin school at the age of 5 to 8 years and end in the age from 14 till 18 years. At the age of about 5 years, American children go to primary school Elementary school lasts until the fifth or sixth class Those who have received secondary education may enroll in community colleges Free government schools are managed mainly by democratically elected school boards Money for school are taken mainly from the local (municipal) taxes on real estate, Approximately 85 % of children are enrolled in public schools.

Primary schools teach children from the age of five to eleven or twelve. One teacher teaches all subjects, except the fine arts, music and physical education lessons which are held once or twice a week.

Mark, both in school and in universities, issued an A/B/C/D / e/F, where A is the best mark, F unsatisfactory, and D can be considered satisfactory or unsatisfactory depending on the circumstances. All marks, except F, can «+» or «-» . In some schools there assessments And+ and D-. Of these marks is calculated average (eng. grade point average). GPA), where A is considered for 4, B - 3, and so on. The grade for advanced classes in school often rise to the point, that is, A is considered for 5 High school last stage of secondary education in the United States, lasting from the ninth through twelfth grade. In high school, students can choose their classes more freely than before, and only need to meet the minimum criteria for obtaining the diploma In high school, especially in the last two years, a new type of advanced class. Students can take classes that need to prepare them for exams Advanced Placement or International baccalaureate. Most of the universities is considered a good grade in this exam as a basic course in the subject.

Higher education is usually obtained within 4 years of College or University. In 2008, 36 % of graduates were trained on a 4 year program (bachelor degree) and 57 % - for 6 -year old (BA + m. A).

U. S. universities can be divided into three types, which are usually differ from each other mainly by the number of students and the atmosphere. One of the main distinctive features the presence or absence of research programs and graduate programs Universities are divided into two types: private universities and state universities, funded by the authorities of specific States. State universities are often very large, and generally somewhat inferior in prestige to private. Their main goal is to teach students from their own state, so for students from other States and competition and tuition fees are usually higher.

Community colleges are required by law to provide education to any resident of the area in which they are located, but admission to the U. S. four - year colleges-often long and complex process. Application for admission is a long questionnaire, which the student has to fill not only their own grades in school and on standardized tests, but also their interests, achievements and awards outside the school program Schools often pay attention to the extracurricular achievements of students in sports, arts, social work, and take those who showed the initiative and especially those who, they believe, will add brightness and diversity in the life of the University. In this case we consider not only the level but also the area of achievement: the athlete involved in sports in which lacks participants, or a musician, playing the right instrument, such as bassoon, can be selected, even if his other abilities are not too impressive.

Массачусетский технологический институт в США.