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
- 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
- JANUARY 22, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International demanded access to the al Qaeda...
Amnesty International demanded access to the al Qaeda and Taliban suspects held by the United States at Camp X-ray on Cuba
- JANUARY 18, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
There has been speculation - it is nothing more - that...
There has been speculation - it is nothing more - that David Hicks, the Australian captured in battle against the Taliban and al-Qa'ida, could be condemned to death by US military tribunal
- JANUARY 17, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International released a new report, "Arbitrary,...
Amnesty International released a new report, "Arbitrary, Discriminatory, and Cruel: An aide-mémoire to 25 Years of Judicial Killing," a report marking the 25th anniversary of the resumption of executions in the U
- JANUARY 15, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Bush administration will charge American Taliban...
The Bush administration will charge American Taliban John Walker Lindh with conspiracy to kill U
- JANUARY 15, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, said the transfer...
Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, said the transfer of British nationals suspected of fighting with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan to Cuba was legal but they had to be treated "with proper respect for international law
- JANUARY 15, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Bush administration will charge American Taliban...
The Bush administration will charge American Taliban John Walker Lindh with conspiracy to kill U