Putin rules out constitutional change to allow third presidential term News
Putin rules out constitutional change to allow third presidential term

[JURIST] Russian President Vladimir Putin [official website; JURIST news archive] said Tuesday that he would not seek to amend the Russian constitution [English translation] so that he could run for a third consecutive term. Russia's constitution does not allow the president to serve more than two consecutive terms but does not bar the president from seeking a third term later, and Putin indicated that he might consider running again in the future. Putin's comments have not ended speculation that he will try and hold onto power after he leaves office. Some political analysts predict that Putin will serve as prime minister when his term ends in 2008, with the possibility that the constitution will be amended to make the presidency ceremonial. This would turn Russian into a parliamentary republic, leaving Putin, if he serves as prime minister, a substantial amount of power. AP has more. MosNews has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.