Death Penalty
When this map was created in 2009, 56 nations (plus Taiwan and the Palestinian Territories) applied the death penalty for civilian, peacetime crimes. That number was unchanged as of 2013.
Map by National Geographic Maps
On June 29, 1972, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional. By a narrow margin, the justices said that executing a criminal was “cruel and unusual punishment,” and violated the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Just four years later, the court reinstated the death penalty under a “model of guided discretion.”
Today, use of the death penalty is decided upon by individual states. Many states do not use the death penalty at all, including New Mexico, North Dakota, and Maine. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia have used it the most often.
As of 2013, the United States is one of just 58 nations that use capital punishment. The nations that use the death penalty most frequently are China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
amendment
Noun
change made to a law or set of laws.
constitution
Noun
system of ideas and general laws that guide a nation, state, or other organization.
criminal
Noun
person convicted of a crime.
death penalty
Noun
punishment by execution. Also called capital punishment.
discretion
Noun
thoughtful judgement or wisdom.
execute
Verb
to put to death by order of the law or in a well-planned manner.
frequent
Adjective
often.
margin
Noun
amount allowed or available beyond what is necessary.
punishment
Noun
penalty inflicted for a crime or offense.
reinstate
Verb
to restore or put a position or policy back in place.
Supreme Court
Noun
highest judicial authority on issues of national or constitutional importance in the U.S.
unconstitutional
Adjective
against the laws of the United States Constitution.
violate
Verb
to break a rule.