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 3, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: REPORT FINDS RECORD NUMBER OF EXONERATIONS IN 2015
A report released by the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE) reported that a record 149 defendants
- JANUARY 1, 2016United 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 18, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Report: 75% of 2015 Executions Raised Serious Concerns About Mental Health or Innocence
USA - Report: 75% of 2015 Executions Raised Serious Concerns About Mental Health or Innocence
DECEMBER 18, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: 75% OF 2015 EXECUTIONS RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OR INNOCENCE
Three quarters of American executions in 2015 involved cases of "crippling disabilities and uncertain guilt,"
- DECEMBER 15, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC Releases Year End Report: Death Penalty Use in 2015 Declines Sharply.
USA - DPIC Releases Year End Report: Death Penalty Use in 2015 Declines Sharply.
DECEMBER 15, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: DPIC RELEASES YEAR END REPORT
The use of the death penalty in the U.S. declined by virtually every measure in 2015.
- DECEMBER 3, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Counties With Highest Rates of Killings by Police Also Among Highest in Death Sentences.
USA - Counties With Highest Rates of Killings by Police Also Among Highest in Death Sentences.
DECEMBER 3, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST RATES OF KILLINGS BY POLICE ALSO AMONG HIGHEST IN DEATH SENTENCES
The counties in the United States that have the highest per capita rate of killings by police officers also rank
- NOVEMBER 30, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Defendants Begin Systemic Challenges to Constitutionality of Death Penalty.
USA - Defendants Begin Systemic Challenges to Constitutionality of Death Penalty.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: DEFENDANTS BEGIN SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES TO CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DEATH PENALTY
Lawyers for capital defendants and death row inmates across the country have begun to respond to what
- NOVEMBER 24, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A majority of Americans prefer life without parole to the death penalty, according to the 2015 American Values Survey
USA - A majority of Americans prefer life without parole to the death penalty, according to the 2015 American Values Survey
NOVEMBER 24, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS PREFER LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE TO THE DEATH PENALTY
A majority of Americans prefer life without parole to the death penalty, according to the 2015 American Values Survey by the Public Religion Research Institute.