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 25, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
David Hicks, the Australian prisoner in Cuba, was given...
David Hicks, the Australian prisoner in Cuba, was given a new ray of hope of being tried in Australia when the US said it would agree to repatriate British prisoners from Guantanamo Bay
- FEBRUARY 13, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Two of the world's biggest alleged drug barons, languishing...
Two of the world's biggest alleged drug barons, languishing in a high-security jail near Sydney, gave up their fight against extradition to the US after American authorities agreed not to execute them
- JANUARY 22, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International demanded access to the al Qaeda...
Amnesty International demanded access to the al Qaeda and Taliban suspects held by the United States at Camp X-ray on Cuba
- JANUARY 18, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
There has been speculation - it is nothing more - that...
There has been speculation - it is nothing more - that David Hicks, the Australian captured in battle against the Taliban and al-Qa'ida, could be condemned to death by US military tribunal
- JANUARY 17, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International released a new report, "Arbitrary,...
Amnesty International released a new report, "Arbitrary, Discriminatory, and Cruel: An aide-mémoire to 25 Years of Judicial Killing," a report marking the 25th anniversary of the resumption of executions in the U
- JANUARY 9, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A U.S. congressman said that China's indictment of...
A U.S. congressman said that China's indictment of a Hong Kong Bibletrader was another reminder human rights abuses remained an obstacle in Sino-U
- JANUARY 9, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
A divided US Supreme Court underscored its view that...
A divided US Supreme Court underscored its view that jurors choosing between a death sentence and a life term in prison should be told if the convicted killer has no chance of parole
- JANUARY 1, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
In the USA there are 38 retentionist states (of which...
In the USA there are 38 retentionist states (of which at least 35 have very active death penalty dockets), 11 circuits with many federal district courts in each circuit all handling death penalty cases, all making law, some in conflict with others
- JANUARY 1, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Executions in the U
Executions in the U
- JANUARY 1, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Following the events of 11 September, ''anti-terrorist''...
Following the events of 11 September, ''anti-terrorist'' proposals which would include expansion of the death penalty were made by legislators in several US states, including Alabama, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio and North Carolina
- JANUARY 1, 2002United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Five states in the USA passed legislation banning the...
Five states in the USA passed legislation banning the execution of those suffering from mental retardation during the year: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri and North Carolina
- DECEMBER 28, 2001United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Donald H
Donald H