Final answer:
The majority of democracies in the western hemisphere do not recognize the death penalty, but the United States still has it. As of 2015, nineteen states and the District of Columbia no longer apply the death penalty in new cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the western hemisphere, the majority of democracies do not recognize the death penalty. However, the United States still has the death penalty. As of 2015, nineteen states and the District of Columbia no longer apply the death penalty in new cases, while several other states do not carry out executions despite sentencing people to death. The number of states with the death penalty may change over time due to shifting public opinion and Supreme Court decisions.