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
- JUNE 14, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The US Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation to...
The US Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation to bring the United States into compliance with two international counterterrorism treaties, easing extradition of bombing suspects and conforming laws against financing of terrorist activities
- JUNE 13, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been asked to step in...
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been asked to step in to save death row Scot Kenny Richey from execution
- MAY 21, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A US judge smoked marijuana and now the appeals of...
A US judge smoked marijuana and now the appeals of two men he sentenced to death have spread alarm through the courts that the case will open up a disturbing new target for defence lawyers - the private lives of judges and prosecutors
- MAY 14, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Former U
Former U
- APRIL 6, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Pakistani President Gen
Pakistani President Gen
- APRIL 3, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The American Bar Association recently announced the...
The American Bar Association recently announced the creation of the Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project
- MARCH 29, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The British-born militant Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was...
The British-born militant Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was charged in Pakistan with the kidnapping and murder of the US journalist Daniel Pearl, told the judge at the closed hearing in court in Karachi that he did not recognise the court, adding: "I request my
- MARCH 24, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Halle Berry became the first African American woman...
Halle Berry became the first African American woman to win an Oscar for a lead role for her portrayal of a death row wife/widow in the movie "Monsters Ball
- MARCH 22, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Islamist who confessed...
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Islamist who confessed to masterminding the kidnapping of American reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan was charged with his murder and faces execution if convicted
- MARCH 21, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The American terror trials of al-Qaeda and Taleban...
The American terror trials of al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects will give defendants more rights than had previously been expected, but will still allow prosecutors greater leeway than in normal courts, the Bush Administration said
- MARCH 20, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Despite the events of September 11, Americans' support...
Despite the events of September 11, Americans' support for the death penalty is "virtually unchanged" from a year ago, and down considerably from five years ago
- MARCH 4, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Al-Qaeda suspects at Camp X-Ray in Cuba, who have been...
Al-Qaeda suspects at Camp X-Ray in Cuba, who have been held by US forces for two months, have been warned that they face the death penalty although no evidence has been given against them