The Tenth Amendment guarantees state rights in the US, limiting federal power to those listed in the Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled in McCullough v. Maryland that federal laws take precedence over state laws. State rights resurfaced during the Civil War, but the powers of the states declined after the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Amendments and […]
The US Department of State manages international relations, including consular offices and embassies, advising the President on urgent matters, and promoting US ideals of democracy and freedom. The Secretary of State represents the Department and oversees foreign travel and citizen relations, including passport issuance and international exchange programs. The Department also staffs all US consulates […]
The Utah state seal, designed by Harry Edwards, was adopted in 1896 and features a beehive with the motto “Industry.” Other elements include an American bald eagle, golden arrows, and tallow lilies. The seal is surrounded by two gold braids with the text “THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF UTAH” and “1896.” The design […]
The willow goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch, is the state bird of Washington. It was named in 1951 after years of indecision. The male has a bright yellow body with black wings and forehead, while the female has olive and yellow coloration. They inhabit grassy areas and feed on thistle or sunflower seeds. […]
The western lark was voted as the state bird of Kansas in 1925, but was not officially recognized until 1937. It is also the state bird of Oregon, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota. The bird is a chunky songbird with a yellow breast and a black “V” on it. It migrates over short distances […]
The Sabal palm is Florida’s official state tree, chosen in 1953. It is the most common tree in Florida and has many uses in medicine, cuisine, and industry. The tree’s fronds grow from the heart of palm, which is harvested for commercial use. Each state within the United States typically identifies various things as symbolic […]
Rhode Island’s state tree is the red maple, a hardy hardwood tree that can grow up to 90 feet tall. It produces yellow or red flowers in spring and turns a bright red in fall. The tree is common in North America and prefers wet soil. It is vulnerable to forest fires but can withstand […]
The live oak is the state tree of Georgia and is prevalent in North America, Asia, and Europe. It is useful in shipbuilding due to its low-lying branches and dense wood, but not for furniture due to its tendency to change shape. The tree has specific characteristics, including slender gray twigs, red and scaly bark, […]
State departments of agriculture oversee food safety, weights and measures, pesticide management, animals, and agriculture. They provide services to farmers, consumers, and traders, ensuring regulations are followed and safety is maintained. Every state within the United States has a state department of agriculture. The functions of each department might vary slightly, but most have several […]
French settlers were in Minnesota for centuries before Swedish and Norwegian pioneers. The state motto, L’Etoile du Nord, meaning “The North Star,” was chosen by Henry Sibley, the state’s first governor. The state seal, designed by Seth Eastman, depicts the motto on a banner. Minnesota is also known as The North Star State and the […]
The Missouri Waltz is the state song of Missouri, with disputed origins and lyrics written by James Royce Shannon. It gained popularity during Harry S. Truman’s presidential run and was adopted as the state song in 1949 after some racially insensitive lyrics were changed. The tune existed before lyrics were written and may have been […]
Montana’s state tree is the Ponderosa pine, which can grow up to 230 feet tall and has a scientific name of Pinus ponderosa. The tree has orange bark, long needles, and cones that contain seeds Native Americans used to eat. Ponderosa pines can live up to 600 years and thrive in partially arid climates with […]
The Kentucky state flag has undergone many changes in design, including different clothing, handshakes, and attitudes of the two representative men. After many attempts, the flag was finally designed as originally intended in 1962, with a frontiersman and statesman shaking hands on a navy blue field with the state motto and flower. The history of […]
Ohio’s state gemstone, flint, is the most common mineral found on the earth’s surface. Native Americans and early European settlers used it for tools and weapons. Today, artists make flint jewelry, and it comes in a variety of colors. Ohio has no official state stone, but has other official symbols. Technically, there is no Ohio […]
South Carolina has two state songs: “Carolina” and “South Carolina in my Mind”. The lyrics of “Carolina” were written by Henry Timrod, who also wrote about the Civil War. “South Carolina in my Mind” was written by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge and focuses on the beauty of the state. The second song was promoted […]
The Iowa state flag was designed in 1917 by the Daughters of the American Revolution in response to requests from the National Guard. It features a tricolor background with an eagle carrying blue banners featuring the state motto. The flag was officially adopted in 1921 and must be flown every school day in Iowa. Unlike […]
Eastern State Penitentiary was a revolutionary prison built in Pennsylvania in 1821, influenced by Quaker beliefs in solitude and work for prisoners. The Pennsylvania system of absolute silence and solitary confinement was enforced, resulting in intense psychological torture. The prison was abandoned in 1971 and is now a National Historic Site open for public visits. […]
Some US states have official state dinosaurs, usually species whose fossils or footprints have been found in the state. State symbols enhance patriotism, and the adoption process is lengthy. Not every state has a state dinosaur or fossil, and symbols are chosen based on the state’s assets and attributes. A state dinosaur is a dinosaur […]
State governors have no official role in the federal legislative process, but can influence their state’s senators and representatives. They have more power at the state level. State governments must comply with federal laws and mandates, but can unite on issues of mutual concern to send a message to Congress. Historical conflicts over states’ rights […]
“Beautiful Ohio” was created in 1918 by composer Robert Keizer and lyricist Ballard MacDonald. It became Ohio’s state song in 1969, despite debate over its relevance. The song’s lyrics were revised in 1989 to better represent the state’s industry and agriculture. The instrumental version is more commonly known due to its use at sporting events. […]
