Originally Posted by
BStrauss3
There are 57 states & territories... most of the latter were not eligible to vote
51. DC
52. Guam
53. Federated States of Micronesia
54. Puerto Rico (commonwealth)
55. United States Virgin Islands
56. American Samoa
57. Midway Islands
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
Then Senator Obama was correct.
No, actually, your list is incorrect re: US possessions.
The US has 50 states, one federal district, and five territories (a couple called commonwealths)-NOT counting minor outlying islands which are governed differently via dept of Interior and other agencies.
After the 50 states and DC, you have Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, CNMI-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas islands, and the US Virgin Islands
The FSM from your list, Federated States of Micronesia, is an independent UN member country the US has several pacts with (like defence) that go back to the trust territory of the Pacific days.
As for TSOs asking questions-ha-most couldn't get them correct on their own let alone asking other people. I do appreciate the humour in the suggestion though...
Ciao,
FH