United States
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal republic with a strong federal tradition
- CONSTITUTION
- September 17, 1787, in effect from March 4, 1789
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- federal court system based on English common law. Each state has its own legal system
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Congress (Senate and House of Representatives)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts; state and county courts
RELIGIONS
51.3% Protestants; 23.9% Catholics; 1.7% Mormons; 1.6% other Christians; 1.7% Jews; 0.7% Muslims; other unspecified or no religion
From the country
- JULY 21, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A German court approved the extradition of Mohammed...
A German court approved the extradition of Mohammed Ali Hassan al-Moayad, a Yemeni cleric, and his assistant, Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed, to face charges in the United States of supplying weapons, militants and millions of dollars in funding to the al-Qa
- JULY 9, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his government...
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his government was pressing Washington behind the scenes to ensure the planned trials of terrorism suspects jailed at Guantanamo Bay would not violate international law
- JULY 4, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The European Commission urged the United States on...
The European Commission urged the United States on to avoid applying the death penalty to six foreign captives designated by President George W
- JUNE 4, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International criticised the planned extradition...
Amnesty International criticised the planned extradition deal between the European Union and the United States, saying the pact contained "serious flaws" regarding human rights
- APRIL 10, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
British cabinet ministers warned that it would be illegal...
British cabinet ministers warned that it would be illegal for Tony Blair to bow to US demands for Iraqi prisoners of war captured by British forces to be handed over to the US for trial or imprisonment in the United States
- APRIL 5, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
British Home Secretary David Blunkett vowed that Britain...
British Home Secretary David Blunkett vowed that Britain would not send people to the US under a new extradition treaty if there was a possibility they could face the death penalty
- MARCH 1, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe urges nations across the globe...
The Council of Europe urges nations across the globe to abolish the death penalty as the organization celebrates Death Penalty Abolition Day
- MARCH 1, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe urges nations across the globe...
The Council of Europe urges nations across the globe to abolish the death penalty as the organization celebrates Death Penalty Abolition Day
- FEBRUARY 18, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The American Bar Association proposed new standards...
The American Bar Association proposed new standards for defence lawyers in death penalty cases, after criticism by Supreme Court justices and legal scholars about the poor representation afforded many accused of being killers
- FEBRUARY 7, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
US Attorney General John Ashcroft has directed federal...
US Attorney General John Ashcroft has directed federal prosecutors in New York and Connecticut to seek the death penalty in a dozen cases in which they had recommended lesser sentences
- FEBRUARY 6, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Texas said it would ignore a World Court order demanding...
Texas said it would ignore a World Court order demanding it stay the executions of 2 Mexicans, Cesar Robert Fierro Reyna and Roberto Moreno Ramos
- FEBRUARY 5, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
State lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that...
State lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that would restore Idaho's death penalty, which was overturned last year by a US Supreme Court ruling