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In Custodia Legis
Official blog from the Law Library of Congress
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The Law Library of Congress produces reports primarily for members of Congress. The legal research reports listed below by topic provide commentary and recommended resources on issues and events. These reports are provided for reference purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. The information provided reflects research undertaken as of the date of writing, which has not been updated unless specifically noted.
The most recent reports are highlighted on our Current Legal Topics page.
- Adoption, Custody, and Parentage
- Aeronautics and Space
- Armed Forces
- Banking and Finance
- Communications
- Constitutional Issues
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Education, Family, and Children's Rights
- Elections and Campaign Finance
- Emergency and Disaster Relief
- Extradition
- Government Powers and Litigation
- Government Spending
- Gun Control and Firearm Possession
- Healthcare, Safety, and Bioethics
- Immigration, Nationality, and Citizenship
- Import-Export, Trade, Contracts, and Investment
- Indigenous and Cultural Property
- Insurance, Social Security, and Retirement
- Intellectual Property
- Labor Law
- Law Library of Congress
- Lawyers, Judiciary, and Legal Training
- Legal History, Traditions, and System
- Marriage, Divorce, and Estates
- Minority and Human Rights
- Motor Vehicles and Road Infrastructure
- Plants, Animals, and the Environment
- Privacy Rights and Data Protection
- Property and Land Rights
- Religion and the Law
- Taxation and Corporations
- Travel Requirements, Visas, and Foreigners' Rights
- Treaties and International Agreements
- War Crimes, Terrorism, and National Security
Adoption, Custody, and Parentage
| Adoption Law | May 2013 | Turkey; United States | PDF, 161KB |
| Hague Convention on International Child Abduction | June 2004 | 51 jurisdictions; European Union | PDF, 1.77MB |
| Provisions on Child Abduction in Non-Hague Countries | May 2015 | 38 countries | PDF, 259KB |
Aeronautics and Space
| Germany: Privatization of Air Traffic Control | May 2015 | Germany | PDF, 177KB | Regulation of Drones | April 2016 | 13 Countries; European Union | PDF, 1.27MB |
Armed Forces
| Article 9 of the Constitution | Feb. 2006 | Japan | PDF, 418KB |
| Family and Medical Leave Benefits Provided by the Military | June 2014 | Denmark; Israel; Norway; Sweden | PDF, 205KB |
| Interpretations of Article 9 of the Constitution | Sept. 2015 | Japan | PDF, 954KB |
| Israel: Military Court Decision on Killing Neutralized Palestinian Assailant | Jan. 2017 | Israel | PDF, 368KB |
| Military Justice | July 2013 | Australia; canada; France; Germany; Israel; United Kingdom | PDF, 1.08MB |
| Supreme Court Decision Invalidating the Law on Haredi Military Draft Postponement | Mar. 2012 | Israel | PDF, 130KB |
| Veteran’s Benefits for Non-Citizens | May 2009 | France; Israel | PDF, 192KB |
| Veterans’ Benefits for Noncitizens | Oct. 2016 | France; Israel | PDF, 202KB |
Banking and Finance
| History of Corruption and the Stanford Case | Jan. 2011 | Antigua and Barbuda | PDF, 104KB |
| New Law on Banking and Financial Regulation | Feb. 2010 | France | PDF, 106KB |
| Regulation of Bitcoin in Selected Jurisdictions | Jan. 2014; updated June 2014 | 40 countries; European Union | PDF, 129KB |
Communications
Forthcoming
Constitutional Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
| Bribery Act 2010 - Anti-Corruption Legislation with Significant Jurisdictional Reach | Mar. 2011 | United Kingdom | PDF, 248KB |
| Decriminalization of Narcotics | July 2016 | 16 countries | PDF, 858KB |
| Former President Hosni Mubarak Trials | June 2011; updated June 2014 | Egypt | n/a |
| INTERPOL: Red Notices | July 2010 | INTERPOL | PDF, 261KB |
| Japan: 2016 Criminal Justice System Reform | Nov. 2016 | Japan | PDF, 180KB |
| Legal Status of Khat | May 2015 | Djibouti; Ethiopia; Jordan; Kenya; Somalia; Turkey; Yemen | PDF, 165KB |
| Miranda Warning Equivalents Abroad | May 2016 | 108 jurisdictions | PDF, 790KB |
| Mohammed Morsi Trial | Apr. 2014 | Egypt | PDF, 133KB |
| Police Weapons | Sept. 2014 | 18 countries; Council of Europe | PDF, 1021KB |
| Sexual Violence Against Women | Oct. 2016 | Egypt | PDF, 250KB |
| Training Related to Combating Human Trafficking | Feb. 2016 | 18 countries | PDF, 2.29MB |
Education, Family, and Children's Rights
| Children's Rights | Aug. 2007 | 16 countries | PDF, 1.58MB |
| Constitutional Right to an Education | May 2016 | 20 countries | PDF, 633KB |
| The Education of Non-Native Language Speaking Children | Apr. 2009 | European Union; France; Israel; Japan; United Kingdom | PDF, 264KB |
| Laws on Children Residing with Parents in Prison | July 2014 | 97 countries; United Nations; Council of Europe; European Union | PDF, 767KB |
Elections and Campaign Finance
| Campaign Finance | May 2009 | Australia; France; Germany; Israel; United Kingdom | PDF, 363KB |
| Citizens United v. FEC and the Future of Federal Campaign Finance Reform | n/a | United States | n/a |
| Election Laws | Apr. 2011 | Nigeria | PDF, 268KB |
| General Election | May 2010 | United Kingdom | n/a |
| General Elections | Nov. 2011 | New Zealand | n/a |
| Parliamentary Elections | Nov. 2007 | Russia | PDF, 155KB |
| Presidential Election and the Conflicting Constitutional Interpretations | Oct. 2007 | Lebanon | n/a |
| Regulation of Campaign Finance and Free Advertising | Mar. 2016 | Austria, Canada, Finland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom | PDF, 833KB |
Emergency and Disaster Relief
| Legal Responses to the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 | Sept. 2013 | Japan | PDF, 1.92MB |
Extradition
| Extradition of Citizens | July 2013 | Brazil and 157 Jurisdictions | PDF, 397KB |
Government Powers and Litigation
Forthcoming
Government Spending
| Bond Requirements in a Procurement Protest Procedure | June 2014 | 21 countries | PDF, 362KB |
| Foreign Aid Regulation | Mar. 2012 | 18 countries; European Union | PDF, 2.54MB |
| Government Procurement Law and Policy | Mar. 2010 | Brazil; Canada; China; India; Japan; Russia; European Union | PDF, 375KB |
| National Funding of Road Infrastructure | Mar. 2014 | 14 countries | PDF, 640KB |
| Stimulus Plans: Recent Developments | Mar. 2009 | 17 countries; European Union | n/a |
| Switzerland: Implementation of Article 126 of the Swiss Constitution – The “Debt Brake” | June 2016 | Switzerland | PDF, 156KB |
| Welfare Reform Act 2012 | May 2012 | Great Britain | PDF, 128KB |
Gun Control and Firearm Possession
| Firearms-Control Legislation and Policy | Feb. 2013 | 18 countries; European Union | PDF, 1.54MB |
Healthcare, Safety, and Bioethics
| Abortion Legislation in Europe | Jan. 2015 | 22 countries | PDF, 399KB |
| Approval of Medical Devices | Sept. 2014 | 15 countries; European Union | PDF, 2.29MB |
| Bioethics Legislation | Oct. 2012 | 10 countries | PDF, 750KB |
| Child Restraint and Seatbelt Regulations | Apr. 2014 | 26 countries | PDF, 350KB |
| Electronic Cigarettes | July 2015 | Germany | PDF, 289KB |
| Legal Responses to Health Emergencies | Feb. 2015 | 25 countries; European Union; World Health Organization | PDF, 1.32MB |
| Medical Malpractice Liability | June 2009 | Canada; England and Wales; Germany; India | PDF, 210KB |
| Reproduction and Abortion: Law and Policy | Feb. 2012 | Israel | PDF, 265KB |
| Sex Selection & Abortion | June 2009 | Australia; Canada; India; New Zealand | PDF, 142KB |
| State Legislation on Comprehensive Health Care Coverage | July 2009 | United States | n/a |
Immigration, Nationality, and Citizenship
| Citizenship Based on Birth in Country | May 2012 | France; Germany; Greece; Italy; Portugal; Spain; United Kingdom | PDF, 418KB |
| Citizenship Pathways and Border Protection | Mar. 2013 | 13 countries; Schengen area | PDF, 1.01MB |
| 'Climate Change Refugee’ Case Overview | July 2015 | New Zealand | PDF, 353KB |
| Family Reunification Laws | July 2014 | 71 countries; United States; European Union | PDF, 474KB |
| Fourteenth Amendment and Citizenship | n/a | United States | n/a |
| Guest Worker Programs | Feb. 2013 | 14 countries; European Union; International Labour Organization | PDF, 785KB |
| Investor Visas | Aug. 2013 | 13 countries | PDF, 773KB |
| Legal Status of Refugees | Dec. 2013 | Egypt; Jordan; Lebanon; Iraq | PDF, 106KB |
| Major Overhaul of Immigration Policies in 2013 | Apr. 2013 | Netherlands | PDF, 126KB |
| Points-Based Immigration Systems | Mar. 2013 | Australia; Canada; United Kingdom | PDF, 566KB |
| Refugee Law and Policy | Mar. 2016 | 22 countries; European Union | PDF, 2.11MB |
Import-Export, Trade, Contracts, and Investment
Forthcoming
Indigenous and Cultural Property
| Destruction of Cultural Property | Apr. 2009 | Cyprus | PDF, 445KB |
| Mâori Culture and Intellectual Property Law | Dec. 2010 | New Zealand | PDF, 422KB |
| Preservation of Historical Cemeteries | Apr. 2014 | 18 countries; United States | PDF, 291KB |
| Repatriation of Historic Human Remains | July 2009 | Australia; New Zealand; United Kingdom | PDF, 295KB |
Insurance, Social Security, and Retirement
Forthcoming
Intellectual Property
| Patent Term Extensions and Adjustments | Mar. 2016 | 8 countries; European Union | PDF, 279KB |
| Protection of Trade Secrets | Aug. 2013 | Brazil; China; India; Russia; South Africa | PDF, 475KB |
Labor Law
Forthcoming
Law Library of Congress
Forthcoming
Lawyers, Judiciary, and Legal Training
Forthcoming
Legal History, Traditions, and System
| National Parliaments | Jan. 2016 | Australia; Canada; China; Finland; France; Germany; Japan; Mexico; South Korea; Sweden and the United Kingdom | PDF, 1.13MB |
Marriage, Divorce, and Estates
| Inheritance Laws in the 19th and 20th Centuries | Mar. 2015 | France; Germany; United States; England and Wales | see report |
| Spousal Agreements for Couples Not Belonging to Any Religion—A Civil Marriage Option? | Sept. 2015 | Israel |
PDF, 407KB |
Minority and Human Rights
| Constitutional Provisions on Women's Equality | July 2011 | 111 countries | PDF, 171KB |
| Laws on Homosexuality in African Nations | Feb. 2014 | 49 countries | PDF, 265KB |
| Status of Minorities | Oct. 2012 | Greece | PDF, 668KB |
Motor Vehicles and Road Infrastructure
Forthcoming
Plants, Animals, and the Environment
| Crude Oil Royalty Rates | Jan. 2015 | 22 countries | PDF, 277KB |
Laws on Leg-Hold Animal Traps Around the World
Animal Trap Laws: Supplemental Report (included above) |
Aug. 2016
Oct. 2016 |
108 Jurisdictions
22 Jurisdictions |
PDF, 864KB PDF, 245KB |
| Measures to Implement MARPOL Convention Annex VI, Chapter 4 | June 2014 | United Kingdom | PDF, 103KB |
| Oil Spill Liability and Regulatory Regime | June 2010 | Australia; Brazil; Canada; Norway; United Kingdom | PDF, 343KB |
| Plant Protection: Edelweiss | Oct. 2012 | Austria; France; Germany; India; Slovenia; Switzerland | PDF, 248KB |
| Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats | June 2013 | 21 countries; European Union | PDF, 1.08MB |
| Restrictions on Genetically Modified Organisms | Mar. 2014 | 21 countries; United States; European Union; International Protocols | PDF, 1.28MB |
| Slaughter of Domestic Animals | May 2014 | Sweden | PDF, 92KB |
| Sustainability Criteria for Bio-fuels | Jan. 2008 | Australia; France; Germany; Switzerland | PDF, 211KB |
| Legislation on Use of Water in Agriculture | Oct. 2010 | 19 countries | PDF, 734KB |
| Wildlife Trafficking and Poaching | Jan. 2013 | Botswana; Central African Republic; Kenya; Mozambique; South Africa; Tanzania | PDF, 384KB |
Privacy Rights and Data Protection
| Biometric Data Retention for Passport Applicants and Holders | Mar. 2014 | 14 countries; United States | PDF, 177KB |
| ECJ Invalidates Data Retention Directive | June 2014 | European Union | PDF, 212KB |
| Foreign Intelligence Gathering Laws | Dec. 2014 | France; Netherlands; Portugal; Romania; Sweden; European Union | PDF, 354KB |
| Foreign Intelligence Gathering Laws | June 2016 | Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, European Union | PDF, 887KB |
| Government Access to Encrypted Communications | May 2016 | Australia, Belgium |
PDF, 757KB |
| Online Privacy Law | June 2012; updated May 2014 | 12 countries; European Union | see report |
Property and Land Rights
| Real Property Law | Oct. 2014; updated Mar. 2015 | China | PDF, 111KB |
Religion and the Law
| Constitutional Law and the Political Rights of Religious Communities | Dec. 2010 | Lebanon | n/a |
| Criminal and Ethical Aspects of Municipal Rabbis' Letter Concerning the Sale or Rental of Property in Israel to Non-Jews | Dec. 2010 | Israel | PDF, 133KB |
| Highlights Of Parliamentary Report On The Wearing Of The Full Veil (Burqa) | Feb. 2010 | France | n/a |
| International Relations under Islamic Law (Shari’a): Dar al-Harb (House of War) vs. Dar al-Islam (House of Islam) | Mar. 2012 | n/a | PDF, 280KB |
| Inter-Religious Marriage | July 2010 | Indonesia | PDF, 111KB |
| Laws Criminalizing Apostasy | May 2014 | 23 countries | PDF, 215KB |
| The Role of Islamic Law in Tunisia’s Constitution and Legislation Post-Arab Spring | Mar. 2011 | Tunisia | PDF, 148KB |
| What is Sharia Law? | June 2011 | n/a | n/a |
Taxation and Corporations
Forthcoming
Travel Requirements, Visas, and Foreigners' Rights
| Legal Requirements for Travel by Unaccompanied Minors | July 2014 | El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico | PDF, 102KB |
| European Union: Status of Unaccompanied Children Arriving at the EU Borders | Sept. 2014 | European Union | PDF, 390KB |
Treaties and International Agreements
Forthcoming
War Crimes, Terrorism, and National Security
Last Updated: 02/03/2017
