The United States: A List of States and Their Place in the Union | List of Us States

 

Table of Contents:

• Alphabetical List of U.S. States
• Why Do These States Matter So Much?
• How Do States Enter the Union?
• What Do States Do That the Federal Government Does Not?
• FAQ

The United States: A List of States and Their Place in the Union

Did you know that the United States government structure means that each of the 50 states holds significant power, a power equal to the national government in some areas? The United States is a federal republic. It consists of 50 states. Each state has its own government, its own constitution, as well as its own clear identity[4]. This way of setting things up gives the nation its basic political system. It finds a balance between the states ruling themselves and the national government holding power. Below is a look at all U.S. states, their official two-letter codes (which come from ISO 3166-2), and some background about their job inside the bigger American government.

Alphabetical List of U.S. States

Code	State Name
AL	Alabama
AK	Alaska
AZ	Arizona
AR	Arkansas
CA	California
CO	Colorado
CT	Connecticut
DE	Delaware
FL	Florida
GA	Georgia
HI	Hawaii
ID	Idaho
IL	Illinois
IN	Indiana
IA	Iowa
KS	Kansas
KY	Kentucky
LA	Louisiana
ME	Maine
MD	Maryland
MA	Massachusetts
MI	Michigan
MN	Minnesota
MS	Mississippi
MO	Missouri
MT	Montana
NE	Nebraska
NV	Nevada
NH	New Hampshire
NJ	New Jersey
NM	New Mexico
NY	New York
NC	North Carolina
ND	North Dakota
OH	Ohio
OK	Oklahoma
OR	Oregon
PA	Pennsylvania
RI	Rhode Island
SC	South Carolina
SD	South Dakota
TN	Tennessee
TX	Texas
UT	Utah
VT	Vermont
VA	Virginia
WA	Washington
WV	West Virginia
WI	Wisconsin
WY	Wyoming

Why Do These States Matter So Much?

The states act as the main places for policy tests and differences in culture. People who live in different states often have very different lives and laws.

The fact that America has 50 separate states means that:

• Laws about things like education and marriage change from state to state.
• Each state holds the right to decide how it organizes its local governments (cities and counties).
• States serve as places where new government ideas receive a trial run before the whole country considers them.

This structure promotes self-rule and lets people choose to live in a place where the rules best fit their values.

How Do States Enter the Union?

The process for a new territory to join the Union as a state happens through an act of the U.S. Congress.

The steps to become a state generally include:

• The people of the territory want to become a state and ask Congress.
• Congress agrees to the idea by passing an "enabling act." This act allows the territory to write a state constitution.
• The territory holds a vote to approve the constitution it wrote.
• Congress passes a resolution that accepts the territory as a new state.

This step-by-step approach shows that the power to add new members rests entirely with the federal legislative branch.

What Do States Do That the Federal Government Does Not?

The U.S. Constitution gives certain powers directly to the states. These are powers the national government does not have or share.

The states keep the power over:

• Setting up and managing local elections.
• Establishing public school systems.
• Issuing licenses for doctors, lawyers, in addition to other jobs.
• Deciding most rules about property and contracts.

This division of jobs means that if you need a driver's license or you want to register your child for school, you deal with your state government, not the government in Washington, D.C. You must understand which level of government handles which issues.

FAQ

Do all states have the same number of representatives in Congress?

No. Each state has two Senators, regardless of population. However, the number of Representatives each state sends to the House of Representatives depends on its population. States with many people, like California or Texas, send many Representatives. States with fewer people send fewer Representatives.

Do states follow the national constitution?

Yes, absolutely. The U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land. State constitutions and state laws cannot go against what the national Constitution says. This rule ensures all states operate under the same set of basic rights and principles.

Resources & References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_order_of_precedence
2. https://www.drupal.org/docs/extending-drupal/contributed-modules/contributed-module-archive/contrib-modules-for-building-the-site-functionality/forms/form-and-interaction-modules/webform-7x-4x-and-7x-3x/additional-3/list-9
3. https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories_of_the_United_States
5. https://www.whitehouse.gov/government/executive-branch/
6. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-executive-branch/
7. https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
8. https://www.state.gov
9. https://www.govinfo.gov
10. http://www.house.gov