Civil Partnerships Bill [UK] News
Civil Partnerships Bill [UK]

Civil Partnerships Bill, UK Parliament, became law November 2004 [granting same-sex couples the right to form legally binding partnerships and have the same tax and pension benefits as married couples; the British government announced February 21, 2005 that registration of partnerships under the act will begin December 5, 2005]. Read the full text of the bill here. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chas here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

First international arbitration court founded

On February 6, 1900, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) was founded with the ratification of the 1899 Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. Set at The Hague in the Netherlands, the PCA was the first international tribunal established to settle disputes between nations. The PCA was later revised by the subsequent 1907 Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. Today, the PCA is housed at the Peace Palace in The Hague and is comprised of 109 member countries.

20th Amendment to the US Constitution ratified

On February 6, 1933, the 20th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified by the requisite majority of states, moving the start of presidential, vice-presidential and congressional terms from March to January in an effort to shorten the problematic "lame duck" period.

Learn more about the 20th Amendment.