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Global Legal Monitor: November Highlights

Posted by: Hanibal Goitom

The ten most viewed Global Legal Monitor (GLM) articles in November addressed a wide range of legal subjects: Communications and Electronic information; Constitutional Law; Criminal Law and Procedure; Foreign investment; Immigration; Labor; Nationality and citizenship.  Below is a list of the articles in the order of their popularity: France: Law on Immigration, Integration and Nationality …

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Another Lame Duck Congress: the Last Days of the 112th Congress

Posted by: Margaret Wood

Congress is once again in a lame duck session.  The Senate’s Virtual Reference Desk Glossary website defines a lame duck session as: When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business. Some lawmakers who return for this session will not be in the next …

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Happy Belated Birthday, Title IX

Posted by: Margaret Wood

This is a guest post by Pamela Barnes Craig, Instruction/Reference Librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Pub. L. 92-318, 86 Stat. 235, 373 turned 40 years old on June 23, 2012.  Its birthday passed much like it became law—quietly and unassumingly.  Its impact, however, has been …

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Executive Orders: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted by: Barbara Bavis

Although they are not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, Executive Orders have been considered one of the President’s powers since George Washington’s administration.  Executive Orders are exactly what they sound like—orders produced by the President, as head of the executive branch, that are “generally directed to, and govern actions by, Government officials and agencies.”[1]  …

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Global Legal Monitor: October Highlights

Posted by: Hanibal Goitom

The following are the top 10 most viewed articles from the general content of the Global Legal Monitor in the order of their popularity: China: Maternity Leave Extended from 90 Days to 98 Days France: Law on Immigration, Integration and Nationality U.N. Human Rights Council: First Resolution on Internet Free Speech South Korea: Permanent Dual …

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The Electoral College – What Is It and How Does It Function?

Posted by: Margaret Wood

The following is a guest post by Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer, both legal reference librarians in the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress. The 2012 Presidential election is projected to be close, and attention has turned to whether the Electoral College may diverge from the popular vote in shaping the outcome …

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Israel’s Upcoming National Elections: Background Information

Posted by: Ruth Levush

Israel is facing national elections shortly after the U.S. elections. Interestingly, Israel was mentioned more than 30 times  in the October 22, 2012 U.S. presidential debate . There is no doubt that the results of either election will have serious ramifications on both countries’ policies in the Middle East. On Oct. 16, 2012, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) passed the Law for the dissolution …

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National American Indian Heritage Month

Posted by: Margaret Wood

We often blog about various commemorative events, and I wanted to draw attention to November as National American Indian Heritage Month.  This began as a commemorative week in 1986 when Congress passed Pub.L. 99-471 designating November 23-30 as American Indian Week.  As directed by Congress in this law, President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5577 in which …