1- Is there any need to change it? Maybe you could use 'states', but that could undermine the case a bit by distancing the writer from the content.
2- It's fine within the context, but without it struck me as possibly inaccurate.
3- United?
5- Which dictionary?
6- myself is fine there
7- It doesn't sound like a serious way of describing construction- it sounds quick and possibly cutting a few corners
15- Again, context could work, but then it normally will.
