For those of us who are global legal news buffs, 2012 was a great year. I am speaking of the Global Legal Monitor (GLM), a Law Library of Congress publication which provides summaries on new legal developments around the world. In 2012, GLM published 512 articles on a range of legal issues in various jurisdictions. …
The idea of republican simplicity is a relic from the age of the American Revolutionary War. To get at its meaning, it’s easiest to meditate on its opposite. Think to yourself: How do I address a king? Am I meant to bow/curtsey? How low? What do I do with my hands while I bow? Do …
The following is a guest post by George Sadek, a Senior Legal Analyst at the Law Library of Congress. Last week George provided an overview of the drafting process and content of the Egyptian Constitution of 2012. He has also previously written posts on Egypt’s constitutional referendum and several other topics. In my last post, …
Following the launch of Congress.gov in September 2012, we made minor updates in October and November, and made the transition to the 113th Congress at the beginning of January. Today, our public beta gets a big enhancement with the addition of the Congressional Record. The Congressional Record page defaults to the most recent issue with the tab for the Daily Digest selected and …
Every four years, just after the Presidential election, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (alternately) release a compilation called The United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, better known as the “Plum Book.” This compilation features a list of over 7,000 civil service leadership and …
Israeli voters are going to the polls today (January 22, 2013) to cast their ballots for the 19th Knesset (Israel’s parliament). Unlike in the U.S., where after the ballots are counted the presidential winner can go ahead with selecting his cabinet, the winner of the Israeli elections is not necessarily going to head the upcoming …
Construction of the inaugural platform continues as January 21st draws closer. This picture was taken on December 25, 2012. Here is another inauguration-related trivia question: How many times in our nation’s history has Inauguration Day fallen on a Sunday, and how has this scheduling issue been handled?
The following is a guest post is by Betty Lupinacci, Lead Technician for Legal Processing Workflow Resolution in our Collection Services Division. It is part travelogue which includes a visit to an inaugural site for a US President outside Washington, DC. What does a trip to Cooperstown, NY have to do with this week’s Inaugural theme? Well, …
I had an interesting query a few months ago from a patron about a proposed constitutional amendment which the patron believed President Lincoln had signed. This was unusual in itself since Article V of the U.S. Constitution does not require presidents to sign constitutional amendments passed by Congress. The key to this query was the date …
The following is a guest post by George Sadek, a Senior Legal Analyst at the Law Library of Congress. George has previously written posts on Egypt’s constitutional referendum, elections in Saudi Arabia, and the trial of Seif al Islam al Gaddafi in Libya. The development and adoption of a new Egyptian Constitution has received a …