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
- JULY 4, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The European Commission urged the United States on...
The European Commission urged the United States on to avoid applying the death penalty to six foreign captives designated by President George W
- APRIL 5, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
British Home Secretary David Blunkett vowed that Britain...
British Home Secretary David Blunkett vowed that Britain would not send people to the US under a new extradition treaty if there was a possibility they could face the death penalty
- MARCH 1, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe urges nations across the globe...
The Council of Europe urges nations across the globe to abolish the death penalty as the organization celebrates Death Penalty Abolition Day
- FEBRUARY 18, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The American Bar Association proposed new standards...
The American Bar Association proposed new standards for defence lawyers in death penalty cases, after criticism by Supreme Court justices and legal scholars about the poor representation afforded many accused of being killers
- FEBRUARY 5, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
State lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that...
State lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that would restore Idaho's death penalty, which was overturned last year by a US Supreme Court ruling
- JANUARY 30, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
In a resolution the European Parliament called for...
In a resolution the European Parliament called for the United States, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Congo and others to introduce a moratorium on executions "with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty
- JANUARY 29, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Iraq denied a leading US defense official's charge...
Iraq denied a leading US defense official's charge that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered the execution of any scientists seen cooperating with UN arms inspectors
- JANUARY 27, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The United States raised concern regarding the execution...
The United States raised concern regarding the execution of Lobsang Dhondup, a Tibetan activist convicted following a string of bomb blasts in southwestern China
- JANUARY 27, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The US Supreme Court refused to get involved in the...
The US Supreme Court refused to get involved in the controversy over death sentences for juveniles
- JANUARY 21, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Saying it had exhausted other alternatives, Mexico...
Saying it had exhausted other alternatives, Mexico appealed to the World Court to stop the execution of 51 of its citizens in the United States
- JANUARY 7, 2003United StatesDEATH PENALTY
According National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty,...
According National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, 224 death sentences have been imposed on juveniles since 1976 but only 21 have been carried out
- NOVEMBER 18, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The US Supreme Court broadened its review of the death...
The US Supreme Court broadened its review of the death penalty, agreeing to consider when death row inmates with bad lawyers deserve a second chance