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, 2014United StatesDEATH PENALTY
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
- DECEMBER 19, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Death Penalty Information Center released its annual report on the latest developments in capital punishment
USA - The Death Penalty Information Center released its annual report on the latest developments in capital punishment
- DECEMBER 18, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Executions down 11.6% from last year.
USA - Executions down 11.6% from last year.
- DECEMBER 15, 2013MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Secretary of State John Kerry urges Texas to reconsider death sentence of Edgar Arias Tamayo, a Mexican citizen
USA - Texas. Secretary of State John Kerry urges Texas to reconsider death sentence of Edgar Arias Tamayo, a Mexican citizen
- DECEMBER 11, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - US Congress's Asia and Pacific Subcommittee has also marked up a resolution on organ harvesting in China.
USA - US Congress's Asia and Pacific Subcommittee has also marked up a resolution on organ harvesting in China.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death penalty
USA - Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death penalty
- OCTOBER 29, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Support for death penalty lowest in four decades in US.
USA - Support for death penalty lowest in four decades in US.
- OCTOBER 29, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Releases Report Including State Murder Rates for 2012
USA - FBI Releases Report Including State Murder Rates for 2012
- OCTOBER 7, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Georgia's unusual burden for proving mental retardation.
USA - Georgia. U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Georgia's unusual burden for proving mental retardation.
- OCTOBER 4, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new report: a minority of counties (2%) produce most death cases
USA - A new report: a minority of counties (2%) produce most death cases
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 160,000 inmates have life sentences; of those 50,000 are ineligible for parole
USA - 160,000 inmates have life sentences; of those 50,000 are ineligible for parole
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - “Death Row, USA Spring 2013” Now Available. The report is updated until April 1, 2013.
USA - “Death Row, USA Spring 2013” Now Available. The report is updated until April 1, 2013.