BREAKING NEWS ~ Iraq parliament extends constitution deadline one week News
BREAKING NEWS ~ Iraq parliament extends constitution deadline one week

[JURIST] The Iraqi National Assembly has voted unanimously to allow a seven-day extension to allow Iraq's constitutional committee [official website] time to finish drafting the Iraqi constitution [JURIST news archive]. From Baghdad, the Iraq the Model weblog carries updates on the parliamentary session as broadcast on Al-Iraqia TV.

The extension is said to have been accomplished by legislative approval of an amendment to Iraq's interim constitution, the Transitional Administrative Law [text], which had set the original August 15 deadline.

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.