U.S. state

The United States of America is a federal republic which consists of 50 federated states, each referred to as simply a state. The states share sovereignty equally with the federal government, and each possess their own three-branch democratic government and state-specific institutions. 49 states are located within the mainland (contiguous) United States, while the 50th state is the State of Hawaii, an island state in the North Pacific, halfway between North America and East Asia.