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
- JANUARY 1, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Following the events of 11 September, ''anti-terrorist''...
Following the events of 11 September, ''anti-terrorist'' proposals which would include expansion of the death penalty were made by legislators in several US states, including Alabama, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio and North Carolina
- JANUARY 1, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
In the USA there are 38 retentionist states (of which...
In the USA there are 38 retentionist states (of which at least 35 have very active death penalty dockets), 11 circuits with many federal district courts in each circuit all handling death penalty cases, all making law, some in conflict with others
- NOVEMBER 19, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Thousands of people gathered in south-western Pakistan...
Thousands of people gathered in south-western Pakistan for the funeral of a Pakistani executed in the United States for killing two CIA employees, and hailed Mir Amil Kansi as an Islamic hero
- NOVEMBER 18, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The US Supreme Court broadened its review of the death...
The US Supreme Court broadened its review of the death penalty, agreeing to consider when death row inmates with bad lawyers deserve a second chance
- NOVEMBER 15, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Softly chanting "There is no God but Allah" until he...
Softly chanting "There is no God but Allah" until he lost consciousness, a Pakistani man was put to death by injection on November 14 for the slayings of two CIA employees in 1993
- NOVEMBER 14, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani protesters burned the US flag and called...
Pakistani protesters burned the US flag and called for a strike in the home town of a Muslim militant due to be executed later in the day in the United States
- NOVEMBER 11, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Miss United States Rebekah Rebels said: "I decided...
Miss United States Rebekah Rebels said: "I decided that the best thing for us to do was to take a stance, a positive stance and come over to Africa and support her (Amina Lawal), instead of staying at home
- NOVEMBER 7, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
In blocking the execution of a Texas killer, the Supreme...
In blocking the execution of a Texas killer, the Supreme Court revealed interest in a new area of capital punishment: the mentally ill
- OCTOBER 21, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Supreme Court, which recently abolished executions...
The Supreme Court, which recently abolished executions for the mentally retarded, was bitterly divided in refusing to consider also ending the execution of killers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes
- OCTOBER 1, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The United States is to move to bar entry to Chinese...
The United States is to move to bar entry to Chinese nationals linked to the controversial global trade in organ harvesting
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The United States executes two thirds of all child...
The United States executes two thirds of all child offenders killed by the death penalty around the world, according to a report by Amnesty International
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Germany said that differences with the US over the...
Germany said that differences with the US over the death penalty would probably prevent it providing evidence to Washington in the case of Ramzi Binalshibh, the al-Qaeda suspect arrested on September 11 in Pakistan