State, a division of the United States and of certain other nations that have a federal system of government. A state is a political and territorial unit that is more or less autonomous in its internal affairs but with other, similar units forms a sovereign nation. Nations with federal systems include—in addition to the United States—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Switzerland, Venezuela, and Germany. The subdivisions are usually called states; in Argentina and Canada, however, such units are called provinces and in Switzerland, cantons.
Because federal systems are not identical, the powers granted such units may vary from nation to nation. For example, in the United States, all powers not specifically granted to the national government in the U.S. Constitution are reserved to the states; in Canada, however, the provinces possess only delegated authority. The organizational structure of states may also vary from nation to nation. For further information on state government, see the government sections of the nations mentioned above.
In international relations, the term state also refers to an independent country, that is, a sovereign nation. .
