Capital punishment (also called the "death penalty" or "execution") in the United States is limited under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and, therefore, may only be used for aggravated murders committed by mentally competent adults.
Capital punishment (also called the "death penalty" or "execution") in the United States is a legal sentence in 32 states, and in the federal civilian and military legal systems. Its application is limited by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution to aggravated murders committed by mentally competent adults.