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
- DECEMBER 14, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
France demanded that the US spare the life of one of...
France demanded that the US spare the life of one of its citizens indicted on charges which could lead to his execution in connection with the September 11 terrorist attacks
- DECEMBER 12, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The United States refused to rule out executing terror...
The United States refused to rule out executing terror warlord Osama bin Laden if he is captured alive
- DECEMBER 12, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the US would...
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the US would not let any coalition members' objections to the death penalty get in the way of punishing al-Qaeda or Taliban members
- DECEMBER 10, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Punishment is on the public's agenda when it comes...
Punishment is on the public's agenda when it comes to John Walker, with most Americans favouring criminal charges against the U
- DECEMBER 9, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The wife of a convicted killer who wants to be artificially...
The wife of a convicted killer who wants to be artificially inseminated before her husband's execution is forcing the justice system to clarify what it means to "strip a prisoner of his political and individual rights"
- DECEMBER 9, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Osama bin Laden would be handed to the Americans if...
Osama bin Laden would be handed to the Americans if he was captured alive in Afghanistan, Downing Street revealed
- DECEMBER 3, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The government might use Charlie "Atong" Ang and Yolanda...
The government might use Charlie "Atong" Ang and Yolanda Ricaforte as state witnesses in former President Joseph Estrada's plunder case, Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr
- DECEMBER 1, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
U.S officials have indicated that, in order to gain...
U.S officials have indicated that, in order to gain custody of suspected terrorists in Europe, they maybe willing to make concessions on both the death penalty and the use of military tribunals. Currently, England, Italy, and Spain hold suspected terroris
- DECEMBER 1, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The new report by Amnesty International examines the...
The new report by Amnesty International examines the practice of foreign governments which refuse to extradite suspects to the U
- NOVEMBER 29, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
America's proposed use of military tribunals to try...
America's proposed use of military tribunals to try accused terrorists goes against the current trend of international law, which has moved exclusively towards civilian courts, according to the Daily Telegraph
- NOVEMBER 26, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Conservative Columnist William Safire on military tribunals,...
Conservative Columnist William Safire on military tribunals, especially in capital cases: "The [Uniform Code of Military Justice] demands a public trial, proof beyond reasonable doubt, an accused's voice in the selection of juries and right to choose coun
- NOVEMBER 22, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Spain cannot extradite suspected Islamic extremists...
Spain cannot extradite suspected Islamic extremists to the United States while the death penalty is in force there, judicial sources said