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
- MARCH 24, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Halle Berry became the first African American woman...
Halle Berry became the first African American woman to win an Oscar for a lead role for her portrayal of a death row wife/widow in the movie "Monsters Ball
- MARCH 22, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Islamist who confessed...
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Islamist who confessed to masterminding the kidnapping of American reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan was charged with his murder and faces execution if convicted
- MARCH 21, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The American terror trials of al-Qaeda and Taleban...
The American terror trials of al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects will give defendants more rights than had previously been expected, but will still allow prosecutors greater leeway than in normal courts, the Bush Administration said
- MARCH 20, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Despite the events of September 11, Americans' support...
Despite the events of September 11, Americans' support for the death penalty is "virtually unchanged" from a year ago, and down considerably from five years ago
- MARCH 12, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Kenny Richey, Jackie Elliot and Krishna Maharaj are...
Kenny Richey, Jackie Elliot and Krishna Maharaj are the three British inmates on death row in the United States
- MARCH 4, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Al-Qaeda suspects at Camp X-Ray in Cuba, who have been...
Al-Qaeda suspects at Camp X-Ray in Cuba, who have been held by US forces for two months, have been warned that they face the death penalty although no evidence has been given against them
- FEBRUARY 25, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
David Hicks, the Australian prisoner in Cuba, was given...
David Hicks, the Australian prisoner in Cuba, was given a new ray of hope of being tried in Australia when the US said it would agree to repatriate British prisoners from Guantanamo Bay
- FEBRUARY 25, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The United States faces possible exclusion from the...
The United States faces possible exclusion from the Council of Europe, where it enjoys observer status, over its continued use of the death penalty, Henriette Girard, a council spokeswoman, said
- FEBRUARY 23, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
On Capitol Hill legislation is pending in both chambers...
On Capitol Hill legislation is pending in both chambers that would reduce the risk of executing innocent people
- FEBRUARY 13, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Two of the world's biggest alleged drug barons, languishing...
Two of the world's biggest alleged drug barons, languishing in a high-security jail near Sydney, gave up their fight against extradition to the US after American authorities agreed not to execute them
- FEBRUARY 13, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A British MP has held talks with UK Foreign Secretary...
A British MP has held talks with UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in an attempt to save a British man on Death Row in the US
- JANUARY 30, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Three Australian law students from Victoria are in...
Three Australian law students from Victoria are in the United States helping provide legal representation for inmates on death row