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Posted by: Nathan Dorn
Imagine a court that could force you to incriminate yourself. It might go about its work like this: you are made to stand before a judge who refuses to give you any details about the charge laid against you. You are forced to take an oath before your God to answer truthfully any questions that …
Posted in: Law Library, Collections
Posted by: Ruth Levush
The Global Legal Research Center of the Law Library of Congress recently completed a major report titled Firearms- Control Legislation and Policy (February 2013). The study examines the different legal approaches taken by eighteen countries and the European Union with regard to various activities involving firearms. The countries surveyed were Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, …
Posted in: Law Library, Global Law, Education
Posted by: Kelly Buchanan
You may know what it is, but you may never have tried it. Or you may have tried it and screwed up your nose at the strange salty flavor. However, to many people – myself included – it is “black gold.” So I panicked along with many other New Zealanders when supplies of Marmite ran …
Posted in: Global Law, In the News
Posted by: Francisco Macías
It has been frequently said that everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. There may be just a little bit of truth to that. Those of you who have read my posts have probably noticed the recurring themes of Mexico, Spain, and Hispanic America, among others—all with an unorthodox twist. This blog post is not the exception. …
Posted in: Collections, Global Law
Posted by: Robert Brammer
The discovery of Richard the III’s remains beneath a Leicester parking lot has spurred interest in Richard and his conqueror, Henry VII. The Battle of Bosworth which resulted in Richard’s demise was not Henry’s first attempt to overthrow Richard. An earlier uprising had been planned for October 18, 1483, but Richard had discovered the plot.[1] …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Nathan Dorn
Today’s pic of the week highlights an item from our collection that finds itself in the spotlight very often, whether as part of a display in one of the Library of Congress’s many fascinating public exhibitions, or as a quasi-sacred book in the swearing-in ceremony of public officials. It is also one of my favorite …
Posted in: Law Library, Collections, In the News, Event, Pic of the Week
Posted by: Nathan Dorn
“There may be room there, though not here for such an holy experiment.” William Penn (1644-1718) wrote these words to a friend in America before he set sail across the Atlantic to found a colony in the New World. The holy experiment he spoke about was a plan to establish a new polity founded on …
Posted in: Law Library, Collections, In the News
Posted by: Nathan Dorn
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 …
Posted in: Law Library, Collections, Global Law, In the News, Event, Pic of the Week
Posted by: Nathan Dorn
Today is the anniversary of the ratification of the first written constitution in American history, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, which took place on January 14, 1639. The Fundamental Orders outlined the form of government that would be established over the Connecticut River Towns, enumerating its powers and describing the duties of citizens active in government. A fascinating document …
Posted in: Law Library, Collections, In the News