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Monthly Updates

January 2023

The death of Tyre Nichols, days after a severe beating from Memphis police officers, has triggered renewed calls for police reform. Mr. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, had been pulled over in a traffic stop. Footage released by authorities reveals that Mr. Nichols was repeatedly and seriously beaten for over three minutes. Five police officers, who are also Black men, have been indicted and charged with several crimes including second-degree murder. Other officials and emergency services personnel have been either dismissed or subject to administrative measures.  An independent investigation by the Department of Justice was announced by the city’s Mayor. A unit of Memphis police, accused of intimidating mainly young Black men, has also been disbanded. Activists and members of Congress have renewed their calls for legislation to address police brutality, including the revival of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that stalled in Congress after bipartisan negotiations failed to reach an agreement in 2021. Human Rights Watch has highlighted the structural problems in policing and lack of accountability for the disproportionate use of force against Black people, who are three times more likely to be killed than white people, at the hands of police.

December 2022

The panel of Congress established to investigate the riot of 6 January 2021 has issued its final report after 18 months of work, in which it holds that former president Trump took part in a conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The report also recommends that Trump is charged with federal crimes, including allegedly aiding an insurrection. Nevertheless, its findings are not binding on the Justice Department. It further recommends that the former president is barred from public office. The committee will dissolve on 3 January 2023.

November 2022

On 8 November, the United States held its midterm legislative elections. Electors voted to fill seats at both the Senate and House of Representatives, governorships, and other local positions. Voter turnout was approximately 46.0 per cent, with higher participation rates in battleground states. Democrats held on to the Senate, with one of the seats (Georgia) determined in a runoff election that took place in early December. Republicans took over the House with a slim majority. The elections were held after a polarizing campaign that saw election officials being harassed, as well as some reports of partisan officials taking up positions at the polls. Some democracy advocates expressed concern for the considerable number of election deniers (candidates who have cast doubt on the results of the 2020 elections) on the ballots. Twelve women were elected and will serve as governors in the upcoming year (about 24 per cent of governorships), three more than the previous record of nine. A total of 149 women will serve in the House and Senate (about a quarter of members of Congress), two more seats than currently held by women.

October 2022

US officials have come to an agreement with Mexican counterparts, through which the United States will give humanitarian visas (humanitarian parole) to thousands of Venezuelan migrants and asylum seekers, while turning many more away to await the processing of their asylum requests in Mexican territory. The policy will rely on Title 42 to fast track the deportation of Venezuelans asylum seekers crossing into US territory by land. Human rights activists have criticized the move as contrary to due process and for risking the safety of many, including children and teenagers under the age of 18. Some have also questioned the timing and the political interests behind the policy, given the upcoming midterm elections.

Explore past monthly updates

GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
331 893 745
System of government
Constitutional Federal Republic
Head of government
President Joe Biden (since 2021)
Head of government party
Democratic Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
First Past the Post
Women in lower or single chamber
28.4%
Women in upper chamber
24.0%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
2.1
Head of state
President Joe Biden
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election ('electoral college' - body elected for the express purpose)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
09/11/2020
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
75.79%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Signatory
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
Signatory
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Signatory
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Signatory
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
No Action
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
No Action
Equal Remuneration Convention
No Action
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
No Action
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
No Action
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
Signatory
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
No Action
in
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Early Warning System BETA

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Low risk of democratic breakdown Low risk of democratic breakdown (BETA)
Currently experiencing democratic backsliding Currently experiencing democratic backsliding (BETA)

Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
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Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Sep 2022
Oct
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Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Sep 2022
Oct
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Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
0 10