Turkish high court allows popular election of president News
Turkish high court allows popular election of president

[JURIST] The Constitutional Court of Turkey [official website] ruled Thursday in favor of the constitutionality of proposed changes to the electoral system that would allow for the president to be elected by popular vote. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) [party website, in Turkish; Wikipedia backgrounder] backed the reforms as a way to end a deadlock over the election of the next president; the Turkish president is currently chosen by parliament. The package also changes the presidency from a single, seven-year term, to a once-renewable, five year term. The electoral reform package will now go to referendum.

The AKP announced plans [JURIST report] in June to hold a national referendum to vote on the reform package. In May, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed [JURIST report] a constitutional amendment approved by parliament that would have allowed Turks to vote for their president directly, after which Parliament passed the amendment a second time [JURIST report]. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.