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 23, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: Biden commutes 37 of 40 federal death sentences
President Joe Biden announced on December 23 that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment.
DECEMBER 23, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - List of 37 commuted by Biden
DECEMBER 19, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - “The Death Penalty in 2024: Year End Report”
25 executions, 26 new death sentences
DECEMBER 13, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people
For non-violent crimes
- DECEMBER 9, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pope Francis and many others urge Biden to commute all federal death sentences
- NOVEMBER 27, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Biden Contemplates Federal Commutation Requests
Clemency to the 40 men currently on federal death row
NOVEMBER 26, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - 9/11 Victim’s Daughter Writes Why She Supports Plea Deals for Perpetrators
Chanel Shum was starting preschool when her father was killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks
NOVEMBER 18, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Gallup poll: 53% of Americans in favor of the death penalty
The number masks considerable differences between older and younger Americans
- NOVEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Guantanamo. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin appeals plea
For the September 11 defendants
NOVEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Trump wants to expand death penalty
For child rapists, immigrants who kill U.S. citizens, human traffickers and drug dealers
NOVEMBER 10, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Guantanamo. Military Judge Postpones Guilty Plea Proceedings in Sept. 11 Case
- NOVEMBER 7, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Plea deals revived for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 2 co-defendants
No death penalty for Sept. 11 attacks