Ohio certifies election results: Bush by 118,775 News
Ohio certifies election results: Bush by 118,775

[JURIST] Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has certified the votes of the 2004 Presidential election. The official totals, including all absentee and provisional ballots are:

Bush – 2,858,727
Kerry – 2,739,952

This is a Bush victory of 118,775 votes, not close enough to trigger an automatic recount under Ohio law. The Democratic, Green and Libertarian parties have, however. all called for a recount, and are expected to file their petitions Tuesday morning. The groups have already raised the necessary $113,600 for the recount. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Connecticut adopts first modern constitution

On January 14, 1639, the first written governmental constitution in modern history was adopted in the Colony of Connecticut. The Fundamental Orders represented the first time that a government was based upon a written constitution anywhere in the world. Along with the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders served as bases for the United States Constitution 150 years later, which in turn influenced the development of later constitutions throughout the world. Three hundred and twenty-six years after the original Fundamental Orders were adopted by Connecticut, the modern Constitution of Connecticut was ratified.

Guatemala constitution takes effect

On January 14, 1986, the current constitution of Guatemala took effect.

Read the Spanish-language text of the constitution, as amended in 1993.

First constitution adopted by Connecticut

On January 14, 1639, Connecticut adopted its first constitution, one of the earliest such documents in the American colonies. Review the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.