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
- OCTOBER 19, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Taliban judges are expected to issue a verdict next...
Taliban judges are expected to issue a verdict next week in the trial of eight foreigners held in jail in Kabul since August on charges of spreading Christianity, their lawyer said
- OCTOBER 18, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Judge Leonard B
Judge Leonard B
- OCTOBER 18, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A majority of the jurors who convicted four men in...
A majority of the jurors who convicted four men in connection with the 1998 bombings of U
- OCTOBER 16, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Federal and state law enforcement officials fear that...
Federal and state law enforcement officials fear that a recent Mexico Supreme Court ruling may hamper prosecution of more than 100 U
- OCTOBER 8, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The United States is happy with the support and actions...
The United States is happy with the support and actions of the EU in fighting terrorism following the September 11 attacks, a senior US government official told journalists
- OCTOBER 6, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Afghanistan's Taliban said they would release eight...
Afghanistan's Taliban said they would release eight foreign aid workers held on charges of promoting Christianity if the United States backed off from attacking the country
- OCTOBER 5, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A Paris-based human rights group said that most of...
A Paris-based human rights group said that most of those on death row in the United States had not received a fair trial and called on US Supreme Court judges to declare the death penalty unconstitutional
- OCTOBER 5, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A Pakistan court asked the military government to explain...
A Pakistan court asked the military government to explain why a Palestinian jailed for the 1986 hijacking of a US plane in which 22 people were killed was extradited to the United States to face further trial after serving his sentence
- OCTOBER 2, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
US embassy diplomats in Uganda had appeared before...
US embassy diplomats in Uganda had appeared before the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee and urged parliament to pass the bill expeditiously that seeks to impose a mandatory death sentence for terrorists and any person who aids, finances or supports
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Washington Post said that this year marked the...
The Washington Post said that this year marked the first time since the death penalty was restored in 1976 that executions had dropped significantly nationwide for two years in a row
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said called...
American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said called on the United States to follow the example of the African National Congress in South Africa, in getting the death penalty abolished
- AUGUST 17, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A July 2001 Harris Interactive survey found that: · 94%...
A July 2001 Harris Interactive survey found that: · 94% of Americans believe innocent people are sometimes convicted of murder · those surveyed believe that, on average, 12% of those convicted of murder are innocent · only 42% believe the death penalty de