North America

The cultures of North America are diverse. The United States and English Canada have many cultural similarities, while French Canada has a distinct culture from Anglophone Canada that is protected by law. Since the United States was formed from portions previously part of the Spanish Empire and then independent Mexico, and since there has been considerable and continuing immigration of Spanish speakers from south of the U.S.–Mexico border, the Southwest of the U.S. exhibits significant Hispanic cultural elements and traditions and considerable bilingualism. Mexico and Central America are part of Latin America and are culturally distinct from anglophone and francophone North America. However, they share with the United States the establishment of post-independence governments that are federated representative republics with written constitutions dating from their founding as nations. Canada is a federated parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.