Ecuador congress to consider presidential impeachment News
Ecuador congress to consider presidential impeachment

[JURIST] The Ecuadorian Congress [official website] will debate Tuesday whether to begin impeachment proceedings against embattled President Lucio Gutierrez [Wikipedia profile]. Gutierrez has come under fire for dissolving the Ecuador Supreme Court last December [JURIST report] and stacking the court with his supporters and then again attempting to dismiss the Supreme Court last week [JURIST report]. Over the weekend, Ecuador's congress voted to dismiss the court [JURIST report] and now will consider whether to start the impeachment process against Gutierrez. A simple majority is needed to begin impeachment proceedings; a two-thirds majority would be needed to oust the president. Some opposition leaders have indicated that they would like to finish the process of reforming the Ecuador Supreme Court [official website] before beginning the process of impeachment. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.