my boyfriend always calls the US a Union. Instead of saying country. It reminds me of when there was 13 states. Is it still acceptable to call it a union? It just sounds wierd when he says it.
2006-09-10 20:47:50 · 5 answers · asked by anonymous 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
The United States was unique when it was formed, because rather than being a country, it was a collection of states. The U.S. is still like this: many functions are controlled by a central, or federal government. However, many more functions are governed by the states themselves: the 10th amendment to the U.S. constitution guarantees this. This is why, for example, the age of consent or the legality of fireworks might vary from state to state.
Over the years, just how much power each individual state should have has been bitterly debated. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton argued for more state or more federal power respectively, and the Civil War was indeed fought in part over whether states have enough power to leave the union.
Your boyfriend is correct, and this is why the North was referred to as the Union in the Civil War. These days most people agree on the scope the federal government should have, but there is still debate over certain types of laws, especially ones that have been ruled unconstitutional - for example, flag burning cannot be made illegal by any state, even though several of them have the laws on the books. In the same way, currently, some states can allow gay marriages.
2006-09-10 21:02:10 · answer #1 · answered by std 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a union of 50 states
2006-09-10 20:56:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anarchy99 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, I guess you could call it a union. The country is compiled of 50 states, which each govern themselves.
At least we all pay taxes to the government that is going to get the 50 united states into a whole heap of trouble.
2006-09-10 20:54:47 · answer #3 · answered by drizzt_234 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's a "union". It's just a term to make people think that we are "equal" in this country. We are called a Union still probably since they never wanted to change it after the Civil War. You know how long it takes America to change Her ways...
2006-09-10 20:51:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a union that is turning into a dump
2006-09-10 21:03:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋