India constitution adopted

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India voted to adopt the country’s first constitution after attaining independence from the United Kingdom. The document went into force on January 26 of the following year.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Trial of Saddam Hussein begins

On October 19, 2005, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was put on trial for crimes against humanity committed during his time in office. He was convicted and sentenced to death on November 6, 2006. The execution took place on the following December 30. Learn more about the Trial of Saddam Hussein from the US Law Library of Congress.

Stamp Act Congress approved Declaration of Rights

On October 19, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York in the wake of Parliament's passage of the controversial Stamp Act imposing a tax for the upkeep of British troops in North America, approved a Declaration of Rights enumerating the rights and grievances of the American colonies.