Ukrainian court approves limits on presidential authority News
Ukrainian court approves limits on presidential authority

[JURIST] The Ukrainian Constitutional Court [official website] Tuesday approved by a 10-4 margin a draft law that would alter the country's constitution [text] by limiting presidential authority while strengthening parliamentary control. The measure, to take effective on January 1, 2006, gives parliament the power to appoint the prime minister, defense minister, and foreign minister after nomination by the president. The draft law was approved last December [JURIST report] by the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada [official website], and is supported by rivals of President Viktor Yushchenko [Wikipedia profile]. Yushchenko's supporters in parliament have vowed to boycott the reforms. MosNews has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.