2006-11-30 17:00:27 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
It has very much to do with how the United States was formed - from small units to a larger country instead of the conventional way where a nation is split into multiple provinces. This division of a nation into a central and local government is known as FEDERALISM.
Take China for example, which uses provinces. The nation was united under emperor Qin Shi Huang and divided into multiple provinces, in order to more efficiently govern the nation. Here, the central government did the dividing, and hence kept as much power as possible to themselves.
In contrast, the United States (the name itself is suggestive) upon its formation consisted of 13 colonies, which united under a common cause to achieve independence. None of these states wanted to give up their power, contributing to the failure of the first union under the Articles of Confederation.
This was finally solved under the Constitution, which we continue to live under today. The basic model, however, persists, where the states have their own sphere of power that the central government (often misleadingly called the "federal government") cannot infringe upon. This does not exist under the province system where the central government is supreme in all matters.
2006-11-30 18:15:05 · answer #1 · answered by John H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure, but the word state is often used for countries too. I think it means they have their own center of power and don't answer to anybody. My guess is that it has to do with the origins of the country, and at the beginning, the states had far more power than the federal government.
2006-12-01 01:05:16 · answer #2 · answered by greeiore 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
America is a Federalist Republic thus it is make up self ruling state the govern in agreement with the Constitution that binds the in a Federation.
2006-12-02 13:22:22 · answer #3 · answered by RUDOLPH M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
state symbolises autonomy and some independent power while province is more of diving the whole area by some central/remote authority for easy administration
2006-12-01 05:49:14 · answer #4 · answered by pravkas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the USA is not Canada, eh? And we are not a territory of a foreign country (at least not yet).
2006-12-01 01:04:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we are not a Monarchy, we have a republic.
2006-12-01 18:26:20 · answer #6 · answered by Odio a los Estados Unidos! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋