http://www.mail.com/subjects/22928-constitutions.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/22928-constitutions.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763722-carter-center-wont-monitor-egypts-vote.html CAIRO (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's center said Thursday it will not deploy monitors for Egypt's contentious constitutional referendum because of the government's late release of regulations for witnesses. The decision reflects concerns that the rushed process leading to Saturday's vote has undermined the legitimacy of the disputed charter b... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763722-carter-center-wont-monitor-egypts-vote.html 2012-12-13T15:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1762776-egypts-opposition-urges-no-vote-referendum.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's opposition called on its followers Wednesday to vote "no" in a crucial referendum on a disputed constitution drafted by Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi. The decision came as Morsi's government forged ahead with its own plan, starting overseas voting in diplomatic missions for expatriates. The moves reinforced the atmos... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1762776-egypts-opposition-urges-no-vote-referendum.html 2012-12-12T23:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761918-honduran-congress-dismisses-supreme-court-justices.html TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras' political standoff escalated Wednesday as legal officials debated whether a congressional vote to remove four Supreme Court justices violated the constitution. Attorney General Luis Rubi decried the early-morning vote to dismiss the justices after they rejected a plan by President Porfirio Lobo to clean up the corrup... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761918-honduran-congress-dismisses-supreme-court-justices.html 2012-12-12T22:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761848-highlights-egypts-draft-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's draft constitution, set for a referendum on Dec. 15 and 22, is made up of an introduction, an 11-part preamble and 236 articles. Critics have raised concerns over issues including Islamic law and women's rights: — Shariah (Islamic) law Like a previous constitution, the draft states, "Principles of Islamic Shariah are the principal sou... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:04:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761848-highlights-egypts-draft-constitution.html 2012-12-12T18:04:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1760446-egypt-opposition-urges-no-vote-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's main opposition alliance called for a "No" vote in the referendum on a disputed constitution rather than a boycott, hours after Islamist President Mohammed Morsi's government forged ahead by starting overseas voting in diplomatic missions for expatriates. The opposition's decision did not dispel the atmosphere of a nation in crisis, d... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1760446-egypt-opposition-urges-no-vote-constitution.html 2012-12-12T16:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757742-egypt-judges-will-boycott-referendum.html CAIRO (AP) — Most Egyptian judges rejected any role Tuesday in overseeing the country's constitutional referendum, a move likely to cast further doubt on the legitimacy of the disputed charter. The nation's worst crisis since Hosni Mubarak's ouster nearly two years ago also forced the government to put off a crucial deal with the International Monetary Fu... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757742-egypt-judges-will-boycott-referendum.html 2012-12-11T22:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755518-egypts-military-takes-security-ahead-vote.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's military assumed responsibility Monday for protecting state institutions and maintaining security ahead of a Dec. 15 constitutional referendum, as the country braced for another round of mass demonstrations by the supporters of the country's Islamist president and the liberal opposition over the disputed charter. The referendum on a c... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755518-egypts-military-takes-security-ahead-vote.html 2012-12-10T20:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1756618-pot-legalized-colorado-with-govs-proclamation.html DENVER (AP) — Using marijuana for recreational use is now effectively legal in Colorado. Gov. John Hickenlooper declared a voter-approved marijuana legalization amendment as part of the state constitution on Monday. It was the last procedural step needed for the amendment to take effect. The drug became legal in Washington state last week. ... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1756618-pot-legalized-colorado-with-govs-proclamation.html 2012-12-10T18:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1755288-minn-gay-couple-71-marriage-case-united.html MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Jack Baker proposed to Michael McConnell that they join their lives together as a couple, in March 1967, McConnell accepted with a condition that was utterly radical for its time: that someday they would legally marry. Just a few years later, the U.S. Supreme Court slammed the door on the men's Minnesota lawsuit to be the first sam... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1755288-minn-gay-couple-71-marriage-case-united.html 2012-12-10T08:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1753974-egypt-opposition-urges-protests.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's opposition said Sunday it will keep up protests against a referendum on a disputed draft constitution but stopped short of advocating either a boycott or a "no" vote less than a week before the ballot. The opposition was still pushing for Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to cancel the Dec. 15 referendum, saying they reject the proces... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1753974-egypt-opposition-urges-protests.html 2012-12-09T20:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1754662-islamist-leaning-draft-constitution-divides-egypt.html CAIRO (AP) — President Mohammed Morsi is unlikely to worry if Egypt's Islamist-leaning draft constitution passes by only a small margin in a Dec. 15 referendum, since he and his backers tout his 51 percent election victory in June as a "popular mandate" that is beyond any challenge. Still, an idea taking root among many secular Egyptians is that a constit... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1754662-islamist-leaning-draft-constitution-divides-egypt.html 2012-12-09T20:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1753440-egypts-military-returns-to-political-fray.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's powerful military, sidelined last summer by the newly elected Islamist president, edged back Saturday into a political fray boiling over with tensions between secular forces and a government determined to pass a constitution enshrining a central role for religion. A military statement warning of "disastrous" consequences should the st... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1753440-egypts-military-returns-to-political-fray.html 2012-12-08T22:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1752574-same-sex-marriage-cases-supreme-court-review.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking a potentially historic look at same-sex marriage by agreeing to hear two cases that challenge governments' different treatment of gay Americans. The focus in one case is California's constitutional amendment that forbids same-sex marriage. The other case deals with a federal law that denies to those who can ma... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 07:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1752574-same-sex-marriage-cases-supreme-court-review.html 2012-12-08T07:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1751668-supreme-court-will-hear-same-sex-marriage-cases.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court plunged into the contentious issue of gay marriage Friday when it agreed to take up California's ban on same-sex unions and a separate dispute about federal benefits for legally married gay couples. The court's action gives the justices the chance to say by late June whether gay Americans have the same constitutional ri... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1751668-supreme-court-will-hear-same-sex-marriage-cases.html 2012-12-08T01:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750536-egypt-delays-early-voting-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt postponed early voting on a contentious draft constitution, and aides to President Mohammed Morsi floated the possibility of canceling the whole referendum in the first signs Friday that the Islamic leader is finally yielding to days of protests and deadly street clashes. Tens of thousands marched on the presidential palace after pushin... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750536-egypt-delays-early-voting-constitution.html 2012-12-07T22:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1751540-charter-enshrining-shariah-core-egypt-crisis.html CAIRO (AP) — One of Egypt's most prominent ultraconservative Muslim clerics had high praise for the country's draft constitution. Speaking to fellow clerics, he said this was the charter they had long wanted, ensuring that laws and rights would be strictly subordinated to Islamic law. "This constitution has more complete restraints on rights than ever exi... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1751540-charter-enshrining-shariah-core-egypt-crisis.html 2012-12-07T18:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1747252-egypts-president-offers-to-defuse-crisis.html CAIRO (AP) — An angry Mohammed Morsi refused Thursday to call off a referendum on a disputed constitution that has sparked Egypt's worst political crisis in two years, drawing chants of "topple the regime!" from protesters who waved their shoes in contempt. The Egyptian president's uncompromising stand came a night after thousands of his supporters and op... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1747252-egypts-president-offers-to-defuse-crisis.html 2012-12-06T23:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1749474-egypt-crisis-tests-opposition-ahead-key-votes.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's latest political crisis over a disputed constitution is posing a difficult test for the mostly secular opposition: Can it maintain its new-found unity and achieve anything beyond bringing large crowds out into the streets to protest? Faced with a series of ever larger and more violent protests, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi has su... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1749474-egypt-crisis-tests-opposition-ahead-key-votes.html 2012-12-06T20:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1746688-islamists-battle-opponents-egypt-crisis-grows.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt descended into political turmoil on Wednesday over the constitution drafted by Islamist allies of President Mohammed Morsi, and at least 211 people were wounded as supporters and opponents battled each other with firebombs, rocks and sticks outside the presidential palace. Four more presidential aides resigned in protest over Morsi's ha... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1746688-islamists-battle-opponents-egypt-crisis-grows.html 2012-12-06T00:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1745110-egypt-descends-political-turmoil.html CAIRO (AP) — Supporters and opponents of Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi fought with rocks, firebombs and sticks outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday in large-scale clashes that marked the worst violence of a deepening crisis over the disputed constitution. Egypt's Health Ministry said 126 people were wounded in the clashes that were still... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1745110-egypt-descends-political-turmoil.html 2012-12-05T19:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1744102-germany-to-seek-ban-far-right-party.html BERLIN (AP) — German security officials are trying again to ban the country's only significant far-right party, after meticulously collecting new evidence in an effort to avoid a repeat of the debacle caused when they tried to ban it in 2003. The interior ministers of Germany's 16 states unanimously recommended Wednesday pursuing a new ban of the National... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1744102-germany-to-seek-ban-far-right-party.html 2012-12-05T17:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1744846-clinton-egypts-unrest-dialogue.html BRUSSELS (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Egypt's unrest shows the urgent need for dialogue between President Mohammed Morsi's government and opposing voices on a constitutional path going forward. Speaking at NATO, Clinton said the U.S. wants to see a constitution emerge that protects the rights of all Egyptians — men and women, and ... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1744846-clinton-egypts-unrest-dialogue.html 2012-12-05T12:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739174-egypts-crisis-widens-with-planned-march-strikes.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's political crisis is widening, with plans for a huge march and a general strike Tuesday to protest the hurried drafting of a new constitution and decrees by President Mohammed Morsi that gave him nearly unrestricted powers. Morsi also faces the prospect of wider civil disobedience as media, the tourism industry and law professors ponde... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739174-egypts-crisis-widens-with-planned-march-strikes.html 2012-12-03T19:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1736176-egypts-president-sets-constitution-vote.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi called Saturday for a referendum in two weeks on a contentious draft constitution, setting a date for another milestone in the country's transition to democracy. Widespread disputes over the charter and Morsi's recent seizure of near absolute power have marred the process and thrown the country into turmoil. A... Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1736176-egypts-president-sets-constitution-vote.html 2012-12-02T03:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1733994-egypt-draft-constitution-sparks-mass-protest.html CAIRO (AP) — Protesters flooded Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday in the second giant rally this week, angrily vowing to bring down a draft constitution approved by allies of President Mohammed Morsi, as Egypt appeared headed toward a volatile confrontation between the opposition and ruling Islamists. The protests have highlighted an increasingly cohesive o... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1733994-egypt-draft-constitution-sparks-mass-protest.html 2012-11-30T21:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1731998-gay-marriage-supreme-court-cases-weighed.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The running fight over gay marriage is shifting from the ballot box to the Supreme Court. Three weeks after voters backed same-sex marriage in three states and defeated a ban in a fourth, the justices met Friday to discuss whether they should deal sooner rather than later with the claim that the Constitution gives people the right to mar... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:48:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1731998-gay-marriage-supreme-court-cases-weighed.html 2012-11-30T19:48:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1734970-us-appeals-court-stays-affirmative-action-ruling.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A federal appeals court is temporarily staying its declaration that Michigan's ban on affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional after state Attorney General Bill Schuette appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Schuette spokeswoman Joy Yearout said Friday the law remains in effect unless the high court refus... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1734970-us-appeals-court-stays-affirmative-action-ruling.html 2012-11-30T19:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1730866-egypt-islamists-hurriedly-approve-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — Islamists approved a draft constitution for Egypt early Friday without the participation of liberal and Christian members, seeking to pre-empt a court ruling that could dissolve their panel with a rushed, marathon vote that further inflames the conflict between the opposition and President Mohammed Morsi. The vote by the constituent assembly ... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1730866-egypt-islamists-hurriedly-approve-constitution.html 2012-11-30T10:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1732656-disputed-articles-egypts-draft-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — An Islamist-dominated panel is voting on Egypt's draft constitution, the country's first charter after the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. The draft largely reflects the conservative vision of the Islamists, with articles that rights activists, liberals and Christians fear will lead to restrictions on the rights of women and minorities and civil liberties i... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1732656-disputed-articles-egypts-draft-constitution.html 2012-11-30T00:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1729566-egypt-judges-strike-to-protest-presidents-decrees.html CAIRO (AP) — In an escalation of the tug-of-war between Egypt's president and the powerful judiciary, judges in the country's top courts went on strike Wednesday to protest Mohammed Morsi's seizure of near absolute powers, while Islamists rushed to complete a new constitution, the issue at the heart of the dispute. The moves came a day after at least 200,... Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1729566-egypt-judges-strike-to-protest-presidents-decrees.html 2012-11-28T20:35:00Z