Slovak court puts ratification of EU constitution on hold News
Slovak court puts ratification of EU constitution on hold

[JURIST] The Slovak Constitutional Court [official website] Thursday delayed Slovakia's ratification of the European Constitution [JURIST news archive], approved in the country's parliament two months ago. Thirteen Slovak citizens filed a complaint [Slovensko report] with the court, arguing that the Constitution should be put to a vote in a public referendum, effectively invalidating the parliament's ratification. The court issued an additional injunction so that the constitution's ratification by President Ivan Gasparovic [Wikipedia profile] is delayed. The Constitutional Court must still decide if parliament's ratification is admissible, or whether a new constitutional bill must be passed for Slovakia's to enter another state entity, on which a vote by referendum is required. Xinhuanet has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.