United States

The Union of several states, each equal in power, dignity, and authority, brought into being by the Constitution, emanating from and adopted by the people in whom the sovereignty resides. McCulloch v Maryland (US) 4 Wheat 316, 4 L Ed 579. A body politic and corporate, capable of attaining the objects for which it was created, by the means which are necessary for their attainment. Van Brocklin v Tennessee, 117 US 151, 29 L Ed 845, 6 S Ct 670. A person for the purpose of a pretrial deposition under Federal Rule 26(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 23 Am J2d Dep § 242. Inclusive in reference to transactions with foreign nations of all territories subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, wherever located. Downes v Bidwell, 182 US 244, 45 L Ed 1088, 21 S Ct 770. A Federal government was created in 1777 by the union of thirteen colonies of Great Britain in "certain articles of confederation and perpetual union," the first one of which declared that "the stile of this confederacy shall be the United States of America." Each member of the confederacy was denominated a "state." The confederacy, owing to well-known historical reasons, having proven a failure, a new Constitution was formed in 1787, by "The people of the United States" "for the United States of America," as its preamble declares. Downes v Bidwell, 182 US 244, 249, 45 1, Ed 1088, 1092, 21 S Ct 770. See expressions following which begin with "United States," also terms and expressions beginning "federal" or "national."