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
- MAY 15, 2006United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether old cases are affected...
the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether old cases are affected by a 2-year-old ruling reiterating that the Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to confront his accusers.
MAY 3, 2006FranceDEATH PENALTYUNITED STATES. JURY REJECTS DEATH PENALTY FOR MOUSSAOUI
a divided jury spared the life of Zacarias Moussaoui, deciding to send to jail for the rest of his life the only man tried on US soil for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
MAY 1, 2006United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. ALITO'S FIRST OPINION SETS ASIDE SOUTH CAROLINA DEATH SENTENCE
the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously set aside a South Carolina murder conviction and death sentence, as Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. in his 1st high court opinion said the man wasn't given a fair chance to mount a defense.
- APRIL 18, 2006GermanyDEATH PENALTY
GERMANY. USA AND GERMANY AGREE TO SIMPLIFY EXTRADITION PROCESS
the United States and Germany signed an accord on Tuesday aimed at speeding up extraditions, though Berlin will continue to reject requests for individuals who could be put to death, Germany's Justice Ministry said.
APRIL 14, 2006Council of EuropeDEATH PENALTYCOUNCIL OF EUROPE MAY EXPEL U.S., JAPAN OVER DEATH PENALTY
the United States and Japan may lose their observer status at the Council of Europe if they fail to abolish the death penalty before the end of 2006, said Konstantin Kosachyov, leader of the Russian delegation to the Council's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE
- APRIL 8, 2006FranceDEATH PENALTY
USA. MOTHER OF SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIM OPPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR MOUSSAOUI
Alice Hoagland's son, Mark Bingham was killed on September 11 as he joined with fellow United Airlines passengers to ground a plane that may have been headed toward the White House.
- APRIL 4, 2006FranceDEATH PENALTY
COUNCIL OF EUROPE. EUROPE SLAMS RULING FOR MOUSSAOUI'S EXECUTION
COUNCIL OF EUROPE. EUROPE SLAMS RULING FOR MOUSSAOUI'S EXECUTION April 4 2006: the Council of Europe slammed the decision to make would-be Al-Qaeda suicide pilot Zacarias Moussaoui eligible for execution in the United States, calling it "as sad as it was
- APRIL 3, 2006FranceDEATH PENALTY
UNITED STATES. MOUSSAOUI MAY BE EXECUTED FOR 9/11 CRIMES
a US jury found Zacarias Moussaoui eligible for the death penalty, and the convicted Sept. 11 conspirator shouted as he was led out of the court: "You'll never get my blood. God curse you all."
- MARCH 27, 2006United StatesDEATH PENALTY
many adults in the United States are in favour of capital punishment for specific crimes...
many adults in the United States are in favour of capital punishment for specific crimes, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 65 % of respondents support the death penalty f
- MARCH 15, 2006FranceDEATH PENALTY
UNITED STATES. US MULLS ENDING QUEST FOR MOUSSAOUI DEATH PENALTY
prosecutors pondered on whether to abandon their quest for the death penalty in the US government's only case connected to the September 11 hijackings, after a federal judge banned crucial testimony. Shortly after US District Judge Leonie Brinkema deliver
MARCH 9, 2006United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. PATRIOT ACT LIKELY TO CURTAIL DEATH PENALTY APPEALS
President George W. Bush signed into law a Patriot Act renewal that will allow the government to keep using terror-fighting tools passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
- MARCH 7, 2006Governo Federale degli Stati UnitiDEATH PENALTY
USA. THREE MEN FACING FEDERAL EXECUTION RECEIVE STAYS
Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a stay of execution for three co-defendants on federal death row who were scheduled to be executed in May, the Tribune Star reported.