Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. The sentence that someone be punished in such a manner is referred to as a death sentence, whereas the act of carrying out the sentence is known as an execution. Crimes that are punishable by death are known as capital crimes or capital offences, and they commonly include offences such as murder, treason, espionage, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Etymologically, the term "capital" (lit. "of the head", derived via the Latin "capitalis" from "caput", "head") in this context alluded to execution by beheading. 

Fifty-six countries retain capital punishment, 103 countries have completely abolished it "de jure" for all crimes, six have abolished it for ordinary crimes (while maintaining it for special circumstances such as war crimes), and 30 are abolitionist in practice. 

Capital punishment is a matter of active controversy in various countries and states, and positions can vary within a single political ideology or cultural region. In the European Union, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibits the use of capital punishment. Also, the Council of Europe, which has 47 member states, prohibits the use of the death penalty by its members.
how many countries have outlawed the death penalty?
how many still use it?
what is it's definition?
is it called something else?
what?
what does one have to do to get this sentence?
are any specific crimes mentioned?
how many?
what are the first three?
what are the last 3?
is this a controversial issue?
where?
does the EU allow it?
is that spelled out somewhere?
where?
does anyone else ban it's use?
who?
is that a group of countries?
how many?
103
103 countries have completely abolished it 
Fifty-six countries
Fifty-six countries retain 
is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime
death penalty, is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime
Yes
Capital punishment,
Capital punishment
Capital punishment
commit a capital crime
Crimes that are punishable by death are known as capital crimes
Yes
 include offences such as murder
Six
 murder, treason, espionage, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide
murder, treason,and espionage
 murder, treason, espionage
war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide
war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide
Yes
Capital punishment is a matter of active controversy
in various countries and states
 in various countries and states
No
European Union, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibits the use of capital punishment
Yes
In the European Union, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Yes
the Council of Europe, which has 47 member states, prohibits the use of the death penalty
the Council of Europe
 the Council of Europe
Yes
hich has 47 member states, p
47
 47 member states