Armenians vote in constitutional referendum News
Armenians vote in constitutional referendum

[JURIST] Citizens in the former Soviet republic of Armenia [government website] voted Sunday on constitutional amendments to impose stricter separation of powers between the judicial, executive and legislative branches. The amendments also remove a clause in the Armenian constitution [text] barring Armenian citizens from obtaining dual citizenship. The US and EU support the constitutional amendments which will strengthen democracy, but a similar set of amendments failed to win approval in a 2003 referendum [election results]. The opposition boycotted Sunday’s referendum because they claimed their proposals were not considered, and the amendments give President Robert Kocharian [official website] too much power. Last week the opposition held a protest that gathered just over 1,000 people, and accused Kocharian of corruption and failing to improve Armenia’s poor economy. The referendum requires support from at least one third of Armenia’s 2.2 million citizens. AP has more. Armenia Liberty, an advocacy group, has additional coverage.

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.