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Current Legal Topics

The guides listed below provide legal commentary and recommended resources on issues and events with legal significance.

Abraham Lincoln and the Law

The Law Library of Congress's historical collection vividly illustrates three periods in which the law played a prominent part of the Lincoln era: Lincoln the Lawyer, Habeas Corpus and the War Powers of the President, and The Assassination: Trials. Each era includes the full text of several items from the Law Library of Congress's Rare Book Collection.

Australia: Terrorism Laws: Control Orders

Australia has a legislative basis for Control Orders, which are used to impose obligations, prohibitions, or restrictions on persons as deemed necessary to protect the public from terrorist acts.

Australia: Terrorism Laws: On Preventative Detention & Prohibited Contact Orders

Preventative Detention Orders and Prohibited Contact Orders are two mechanisms available under the Australian criminal law for addressing terrorism concerns. A Preventative Detention Order permits detention of a person for a short period of time (up to forty-eight hours), while a Prohibited Contact Order prohibits the detained person from contacting individuals named in the order.

Australia: Terrorism Laws: On Questioning Warrants and Questioning and Detention Warrants

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has the power to detain and question persons in relation to terrorism. In some instances, this detention extends to pre-charge detention. The ASIO may operate under either a Questioning Warrant or a Questioning and Detention Warrant.

Campaign Finance

This report examines campaign finance laws, including those governing the length of the campaign period, funding sources and disclosure requirements, restrictions on contributions and expenditures, and free speech implications of such restrictions, in Australia, France, Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

Children's Rights

The national and international laws and practices are detailed and analyzed for sixteen nations including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia, and the United Kingdom (England and Wales).

Commemorative Observations

Listed are the commentary and recommended resources for selected national observances and commemorative months: African American History Month, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Jewish American Heritage Month, Law Day, National American Indian Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month and Women's History Month.

Cuba: Legal Implications of Castro's Resignation

On February 19, 2008, Granma published a message from Fidel Castro in which he announced that, due to his poor health, he could no longer serve as President of Cuba. After Castro resigned, the National Assembly of People's Power (Cuba's legislative body) convened in order to elect a new president.

Habeas Corpus Rights

This report analyzes the right available to persons in Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Kingdom, and Yemen to challenge the legality of their arrest or detention.

Honduras: Constitutional Law Issues

The Supreme Court of Honduras has constitutional and statutory authority to hear cases against the President of the Republic and other high officers, to adjudicate and enforce judgments, and to request the assistance of the public forces to enforce its rulings. The Constitution gives the Honduran National Congress the power to disapprove of the conduct of the President, to conduct special investigations on issues of national interest, and to interpret the Constitution. In the case against President Zelaya, the Congress interpreted the power to disapprove of the conduct of the President to encompass the power to remove him from office. The Honduran Constitution prohibits the expatriation of Honduran citizens.

Honduran Constitutional Crisis: Applicable Authorities

A list of authorities prepared by the staff of the Law Library of Congress identifies Honduran legal documents considered relevant to the events of the summer of 2009, which resulted in the removal of a sitting President.

Iraq: Legal History and Traditions

Present day Iraq exists on land known to the ancient world as Mesopotamia. The territory was defined by its position between two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. The region experienced many types of rule and many formal and informal legal systems.

Iraq: Saddam Hussein Trial

Find information on the tribunal and its historical background with articles related to key legal issues. It includes print and Web citations to relevant treaties, laws, and references on the subject.

Japan: Article 9 of the Constitution

This research report analyzes Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and its possible amendment.

Japan: WWII POW and Forced Labor Compensation Cases

Japanese courts have been dealing with post-WWII compensation cases from foreigners since approximately 1990. In the cases of POWs, forced laborers, and comfort women, some lower courts have awarded compensation, but most of them have not.

John Adams and the Boston Massacre Trial of 1770

In 1770 young lawyer John Adams, future President of the United States, served as defense counsel in the trial of eight British soldiers accused of murder during a riot in Boston. Adams's impassioned speech in defense of the soldiers resulted in their acquittal. This page shows the covers of five reports and transcripts of the court proceedings, and includes the full text of three of these items from the Law Library of Congress's Rare Book Collection.

Lebanon: The Hariri Assassination

The investigation and potential prosecution of those involved in the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, could become a case study in the rapid development of international criminal law. In addressing such issues, the Law Library of Congress provides information and legal analysis reflecting the actual state of international law.

Lebanon: Presidential Election and the Conflicting Constitutional Interpretations

Lebanon may face its first major constitutional crisis since its creation in 1920, following World War I in which the Ottoman Empire lost its Arab provinces to the Allied Forces.

Pakistan: Crisis in the Judiciary

Find information and analysis of the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Pakistan: Musharraf’s Resignation

After being threatened with impeachment by these two parties, Musharraf announced his resignation from the presidency on August 18, 2008. Mohammedmian Soomro, Chairman of the Senate, took over as acting President, a responsibility given to him by the Constitution, until Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the PPP and widower of Benazir Bhutto, was elected President on September 6, 2008.

Pakistan: Proclamation of Emergency

On November 3, 2007, General Pervez Musharraf, then Chief of Army Staff and the President of Pakistan issued a Proclamation of Emergency in Pakistan followed by the Promulgation of Provisional Constitution Order and the Oath of Office (Judges) Order, 2007. An analysis of the constitutionality of the Proclamation of Emergency follows.

Russia: Legal Aspect of War in Georgia

This report reviews legal aspects of Russia’s invasion into Georgia in August 2008 and Russia’s recognition of Georgia’s separatist enclaves’ independence. The report includes an analysis of relevant aspects of international law and Russian domestic law, as well as an evaluation of Russia’s legal justification for its actions. The report also provides historic background of the conflict and commentaries on laws regarding the deployment of the Russian military abroad.

Russia: Parliamentary Elections

On December 2, 2007, elections for the State Duma (lower house of the legislature) were held in Russia. For the first time in Russian history, all 450 parliamentary seats were divided between representatives of political parties elected by federal and regional party lists under a proportional electoral system.

Sex Selection & Abortion

This report provides an analysis of laws on the subject of sex selection and abortion in Australia, Canada, India, and New Zealand.

Stimulus Plans: Recent Developments in Selected Countries

A series of reports summarizing the recent developments in the proposal or implementation of financial and economic stimulus packages in selected foreign jurisdictions, such as, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom: Pre-Charge Detention for Terrorist Suspects

The United Kingdom has faced the issue of terrorism for several decades. It has more recently faced the issue of legislating against the terrorist threat whilst complying with the European Convention on Human Rights. One of the UK's anti-terrorism measures is the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects for up to twenty eight days without charge.

United States: Citizens United v. FEC and the Future of Federal Campaign Finance Reform

The U. S. Supreme Court case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, will test the constitutionality of important elements of federal campaign finance legislation.

United States: The Constitution

Assembled here are books, articles, and congressional testimony regarding separation of power issues in the United States: constitutional interpretation, executive privilege, military tribunals, national security whistleblowers, presidential inherent powers, presidential signing statements, second amendment, state secrets privilege, war powers, and, war powers resolution.

United States: State Legislation on Comprehensive Health Care Coverage

As the national debate on health care continues, state laws provide small scale models of legislation that might be implemented on a larger scale. State Legislation on Comprehensive Health Care Coverage provides an overview of certain legislation in Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont as well as links to state codes.

United States: Supreme Court Nominations

Selected resources, nomination documents, and web resources related to the nomination process.

Last Updated: 11/06/2009