Taiwan ruling party debates new constitution News
Taiwan ruling party debates new constitution

[JURIST] The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) [official website], Taiwan's ruling political party, has opened debate on the drafting of a new constitution, a move promised [JURIST report] by President Chen Shui-bian [official profile] earlier this year. The current constitution [text], drafted by the Kuomintang party of China in 1947, has been amended seven times and was written 2 years before Taiwan split from China in 1949 after the Communist takeover of the mainland. Chen has said that he wants the new constitution to better reflect the current state of Taiwan.

Many Taiwanese citizens oppose a new constitution because it may anger China, which insists that Taiwan remains a part of its territory [Chinese government materials on Taiwan] and has maintained that any declaration of independence by the island would result in a military response [People's Daily report]. Opponents also claim that drafting a new constitution is simply a way to gain support from pro-independence groups. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.