Justice & the Courts

Want To Know More About American Attitudes on the Death Penalty?

[09.29.2011]

You’re in luck!  If you’ve been following our coverage of the recent debates on the death penalty, either in “Figuring Faith” or on the blog, you may want to know more about what Americans think about the death penalty.  Toddle right over to our research page to see our latest research note, “American Attitudes on the Death Penalty” and learn about differences along partisan, racial, religious, gender and generational lines,… more

Americans Support the Death Penalty, At Least in the Abstract

[09.21.2011]

Over the past few months, much (electronic) ink has been spilled over an issue that doesn’t usually get much play: the death penalty.  The planned executions of Duane Buck in Texas and Troy Davis in Georgia resurrected the debate over the morality of the death penalty, although these cases are somewhat unusual.  The Georgia Pardons Board refused clemency for Davis yesterday, which means that he will likely be executed tonight… more

Happy Constitution Day: What Do Americans Think About Separation of Church and State?

[09.16.2011]

Although it’s technically tomorrow (September 17), today people around the United States will observe Constitution Day, a federal holiday created in 2004 to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and those who have, by birth or naturalization, become United States citizens.  The day provides a good opportunity to reflect on how Americans think about what it means to be a U.S. citizen, and how Constitutional values inform our political… more