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Category: Global Law

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Discovering the Constitution of Cadiz

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

The following is a guest post by Ángel García, a summer intern in the Law Library’s Global Legal Research Center. March 19, 2012, will be the 200th anniversary of the Constitution of Cádiz.  Seizing on the opportunity while interning at the Law Library of Congress, I asked the rare book technician, Nathan Dorn, to find …

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The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

Today, July 18, is Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday and the second annual Nelson Mandela International Day.  This day was officially observed for the first time last year following the adoption of a resolution by the U.N. General Assembly on November 10, 2009.  The resolution acknowledged “Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and …

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Canadian Government Wants Term Limits for Senators

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

The following is a guest post by Steve Clarke, Senior Foreign Law Specialist. Canada‘s new majority Conservative Government headed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper has introduced a bill (Bill C-7) that would limit Senators to one nine-year term.  The 105 members of Canada’s upper house currently have no terms of office and are only obliged …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Happy Feet Not So Happy

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

Shrek died last month.  Not green ogre Shrek – he’s still happily living in Ogre Swamp as far as I know – but Shrek the sheep.  Shrek became a celebrity in New Zealand after he was found in 2004 after six years of avoiding being shorn by hiding out in a cave in the hills …

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Canon Law Update

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

The following is a guest post by Dante Figueroa, Senior Legal Information Analyst. Recently this blog highlighted various religious law materials in the Law Library’s collections, including our extensive canon law collection.  There have been some important developments in the canon law area this year.  These developments relate to the implementation of the Apostolic Letter …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Happy (New Zealand) Birthday, Queen Elizabeth!

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

The British Royal Family has been a quite a topic of conversation here in the U.S. this year, what with “that” wedding a few weeks ago.  Coming from a Commonwealth Realm I saw many references to Queen Elizabeth II and her family while I was growing up – her picture on our coins and notes, …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Eritrean Independence Day

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

Today, Eritrea, Africa’s youngest nation (at least until next month, when South Sudan is expected to declare its formal independence), celebrates its 20th Independence Day. Eritrea, like all of its African brethren, is a colonial creation.  Although Turkey, Egypt, and the local Ethiopian rulers controlled different parts of what later became Eritrea at different times, …