Precipitation : measuring amount of rain

Climate : typical weather in region in long period

Vegetation : plants grow there

Polar and Tundra

• Northern Canada & Alaska very cold climate.

• 20 inches precipitation

• Much of ground is frozen so no plants grow

Forest

• temperature rain forest

• Forest of conifer & broadleaf trees covering much of Canada & northeastern/western & south eastern US

• 10 to 80 inches precipitation

• Temperature vary from mild to cold in different area

Rain Forest

• Along Pacific Ocean, precipitation reaches 167 inches.

• High trees & ground covered by plants

Grassland

• Center of America covered by grasses

• 30 inches or more precipitation -> all & Thick grasses

• Western of land less rainfall -> shorter grasses

• People grow grain & raise cattle

Desert

• Southwest get less than 10 inches precipitation

• Plants in this area have to endure harsh environment

(system of coordinatiing / activity)

• is called melting pot/salad bowl...

• their culture is cultures from immigrants

Immigrant

• someone who chooses to new country.

• first immigrants to US : native american

• next immigrants : Europeans (Spanish, British/French)

Duties of Citizens

• Citizenship - combination of duties and rights of citizen

• Citizen must do: pay taxes, serve on juries when get called, obey laws

• volunteering: cast an informed vote, serve in the military, volunteer for activities that promote common good

Democracy

• rule by the majority (of people)

• created by the founding fathers (first leaders)

• basis for all US laws

Limited Government

• restrict the power of the government

• laws that give power to the people

• constitution give federal government specific power

  (establishing army, waging war, raising money by taxes, making laws)

Constitutional Amendment

• changes to the constitution

Bill of Rights

• first 10 amendments

• list specific rights of citizens

Limiting Powers of Government

• Federal System

  • national government : set up army & navy, issues money,

  • states government :

3 Branches of Government

• 3 branches share and check powers of each others

• Executive Branch

  • President enforces laws, serves as commander in chief of armed force, conducts foreign affairs

  • Vice President, 14 executive departments and other key members

• Legislative Branch

  • make laws

  • ratify treaties

  • 2 houses of congress

    • Senate : 2 senator elected each 50 states

    • House of Representatives : 435 members (can be changed)

    • have some common and separate abilities

• Judicial Branch

• supreme court(under this court... federal courts, state courts, district courts)

  • interpret laws

• system of federal courts making sure laws and treaties are constitutional

• highest one, Supreme Court, with nine justices nominate by President and approved by Senate

// no country in the world has everything

resource : something that can be used to produce goods or services

Study of Economics

• Economics : make choice

• good : any object people can buy to satisfy a want

• service : action people want and need

A Growing Economy

• nation produces goods & services to support growing economy

• expanding economy -> both people & government can satisfy more wants

• high production can sustain growing economy

  • production : making of goods & services

  • 4 factors

    • Natural Resources : raw materials that can find in nature and used to make goods

    • Labor Resources : appropriate knowledge, skills, experiences to make goods for workers

      • labor : he or she use own time to earn money. (skilled and unskilled)

    • Capital Resources : Machines, factories, supplies are needed

    • Entrepreneurs : people who bring these factors together to produce goods and services

The United States Economy

• GDP(gross domestic product) : total value of goods & services that country produces a year

• way to measure country's economy or compare different countries'

• communications, finance, manufacturing, electronics -> affect the people how wealthier in country

The Free Enterprise or Market Economy

• buyers & sellers make all decisions

• (command economy -> government decides)

• mixed economy : buyers & sellers make all decisions with little government interference.

Supply and Demand

• consumer : person who uses goods and services

  • affects what will be produced.

  • price affects distribution of products.

• profit : money that remains after all costs of producing product have been paid

• competition : rivalry among businesses to sell goods to consumers and make greatest profit

  • to achieve these company offer improved product, manufacture it cheaply, or sell it at better price