### Question
How is the term United States defined?


### Answer
The term **United States** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 662* as the following:

> the Federal Government of the United States, consisting of the legislative branch, the judicial branch, and the executive branch thereof, and each and every department, agency, or instrumentality of any such branch, including the United States Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission, any wholly owned Federal corporation created by an Act of Congress, any office, commission, bureau, or other administrative subdivision or creature thereof, and the governments of the territories and possessions of the United States

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 662*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 6-THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU > SUBCHAPTER IV-GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES > Part D-Child Support and Establishment of Paternity**

