Latest news with #Article1
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Have sections of the US Constitution gone missing from government website?
It didn't take long for internet sleuths to notice that something was missing on the Library of Congress website that annotates the United States Constitution. Reddit users pointed out on Wednesday that the website omitted text from some sections of Article 1, which include provisions about the right of habeas corpus as well as limits on congressional and state power. Using the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, people found that the full text appeared on the Library of Congress website on July 17 but was missing in snapshots after that date. Some people mistakenly said President Donald Trump's administration removed these provisions from the constitution entirely without Congress's input. 'BREAKING: The official US government website has quietly removed Sections 9 and 10 of Article I from the Constitution,' one Threads post said on Wednesday. 'Let me say that again: They didn't amend the Constitution. They didn't debate it in Congress. They just erased two of the most protective sections; the ones that deal with habeas corpus, limits on federal power, and Congress's sole authority to set tariffs.' Altering the text on a website would not remove or erase sections of the constitution. It can be changed only through a formal amendment process, which begins in the US Congress, which can modify or replace existing provisions. The constitution's full text is also available on the websites for the National Archives and the nonprofit National Constitution Center. The amendment process outlined in Article 5 is the only way to alter the constitution. Any proposed amendment must first be approved by a two-thirds vote in both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Then it must be ratified by three-quarters of the state legislatures or via state ratifying conventions. Government website omits constitution sections On Wednesday about 11am in Washington, DC (15:00 GMT), the Library of Congress posted on X that the missing sections were 'due to a coding error'. 'We have been working to correct this and expect it to be resolved soon,' the post read. The website on Wednesday also displayed a banner that said: 'The Constitution Annotated website is currently experiencing data issues. We are working to resolve this issue and regret the inconvenience.' The institution issued an update on X a few hours later that the website was fixed. 'Missing sections of the Constitution Annotated website have been restored,' it said. 'Upkeep of Constitution Annotated and other digital resources is a critical part of the Library's mission, and we appreciate the feedback that alerted us to the error and allowed us to fix it.' Article 1 establishes the federal government's legislative branch. Its missing sections included portions of Section 8 and all of Sections 9 and 10, which largely focus on limits on congressional and state power. Before being restored, the text of Article 1 ended in Section 8, just before a line that lists Congress's ability to provide and maintain a navy. Section 9, which was temporarily deleted, details limits on congressional power. It addresses habeas corpus, the legal procedure that grants people in government custody the right to challenge their detention in court. The section says Congress may not suspend habeas corpus 'unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it'. Habeas corpus has been in the headlines during the second Trump administration. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters in May that the administration was looking into suspending habeas corpus. Later that month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrongly said habeas corpus is a right the president has to remove people from the US. Section 10, which was also temporarily removed, covers restrictions on US states, including regulating tariffs without Congress's consent. Our ruling A Threads post said an official US government website 'quietly removed Sections 9 and 10 of Article I from the Constitution' without input from Congress. On Wednesday, the Library of Congress's annotated website of the US Constitution was missing sections of Article 1. The library said the issue was related to a coding error, and it was corrected shortly afterwards. Website alterations do not affect US law or the constitution. The document can be changed only through a formal amendment process initiated by Congress. We rate this post false.
Axios
5 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Library of Congress blames "coding error" for missing sections of online Constitution
The Library of Congress on Wednesday pointed to an unspecified "coding error" that led to key parts of the U.S. Constitution being deleted from the Constitution Annotated website. Why it matters: The missing sections included foundational provisions, such as the right to habeas corpus — which protects people from unlawful detention — and the foreign emoluments clause. Those constitutional principles have risen to the forefront of political and legal debate amid the president's immigration crackdown and foreign dealings. As of Wednesday afternoon, most of Article I Section 8 had been restored, but Sections 9 and 10 appeared to still be missing. Driving the news: As highlighted by tech news site TechCrunch, an archived version of the website shows that a chunk of Article I Section 8 was cut, in addition to the entirety of Sections 9 and 10 of Article I. According to captures from the Wayback Machine, those sections were present as recently as mid-July. What they're saying: " It has been brought to our attention that some sections of Article 1 are missing from the Constitution Annotated ...website," the Library of Congress said in a statement posted to social media. "We've learned that this is due to a coding error." A banner across the top of the site read, "The Constitution Annotated website is currently experiencing data issues. We are working to resolve this issue and regret the inconvenience." Links for certain provisions included in those sections, such as Section 9's text on ex post facto laws, directed to an error page that read "Page Not Found" with a portrait of George Washington. That page appears to have since been restored. The Library of Congress did not immediately respond to Axios' request for further information. Context: The text of Article I Section 8, which outlines congressional powers, trailed off after enumerating Congress' power to "To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years." Rather than continuing to the next line, "To provide and maintain a Navy;" the section ended abruptly on a semicolon. The Militia Clauses, among others that follow in Section 8, were also missing as of early Wednesday afternoon. Zoom out: Article I Section 9, which places limits on congressional power, and Section 10, which covers powers denied to the states, had also vanished. One critical clause of Section 9 is the right of habeas corpus, which reads, "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." Stephen Miller, the president's top policy adviser, said in May that the White House was exploring the option of suspending habeas corpus amid its fight against judges curtailing its deportation push. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem botched questions about the legal principle at a Senate hearing in May, falsely asserting habeas corpus gives the president a "constitutional right" to conduct deportations.
Arab Times
22-05-2025
- Arab Times
The Story of Three Syrian Brothers and a Forged Kuwait Citizenship
KUWAIT CITY, May 22: In a high-profile case of forged nationality, informed sources have revealed that three brothers—one of whom obtained Kuwaiti citizenship under false pretenses are at the center of a large-scale fraud investigation that has exposed decades-old manipulation of the naturalization system. According to investigative findings, the eldest brother, originally of Syrian descent, was granted Kuwaiti citizenship in the 1960s under Article 1 of the Nationality Law by submitting a falsified birth date. Though he was born in the 1950s, he claimed to be born in the 1940s to meet the age requirement for naturalization. He later secured a job in Kuwait's oil sector, built a life, and raised a family. However, once investigators uncovered his fraudulent background, he fled the country in November last year with his wife and one of his children, after selling his house and liquidating his assets. Investigators traced his extended family to Syria, where DNA samples taken from his cousins confirmed, via matching Y-chromosome profiles, that they shared a common male ancestor with the fugitive's children. This provided scientific validation of the familial ties and bolstered the case against him. Notably, such genetic evidence was previously not accepted in such cases, but a report from the State Security Department corroborated the findings of the Nationality Investigations Department, offering additional proof of identity fraud. Further digging revealed that his second brother had also acquired Kuwaiti citizenship under the 'noble deeds' clause in 1976, based on letters of recommendation describing him as a philanthropist. He too had worked in the oil sector and is now deceased. A handwritten statement found in his file confirmed that he and the first brother were siblings, both originating from the village of Al-Hasrat in Al-Bukamal, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. A third brother, also living in Kuwait, had applied for citizenship alongside his siblings in 1976 but was denied. He later applied again through a separate committee but remained stateless (Bedoun). The case against all three was solidified with documentary evidence, genetic testing, and the signed acknowledgment from the second brother that they were, indeed, brothers, confirming the fraudulent citizenship status of at least two of them. Authorities say the fugitive brother, who obtained citizenship via Article 1, has an estimated 50 dependents or followers, while the second brother, now deceased, had 77 followers. In a further twist, it was revealed that the son of the first forger (a high-ranking officer in the Kuwait military)had submitted a retirement request following the exposure of the case. That request was halted after it was discovered he had already left Kuwait and is believed to be in Britain. The investigation highlights the complexities and long-term consequences of fraudulent naturalization and may lead to broader reviews of past citizenship cases.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Johnson says he'd talk to Trump before moving to claw back constitutional power
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he would talk to President Trump before making any legislative move to claw back power if the president overstepped his constitutional authority. Johnson's comments came at an Axios event Wednesday during which reporter Hans Nichols started a line of questioning by saying Johnson had ceded a lot of constitutional authority to the president. 'I don't agree with that,' Johnson interjected. 'I'm a constitutional law attorney. I'm a jealous guardian of Article 1 power and the separation of powers and constitutional balance,' he said. 'Whomever is the president of whatever party, they do have a broad degree of latitude, for example, to deal with unfair trade partners and trade practices,' Johnson added, referring to tariff policy. The Speaker said he would step in if Trump overextended on his authority — but not without personally talking to the president first. 'If it gets close to where the imbalance is there, then we would step in,' Johnson said. 'But I think the first protocol, to be very frank, is I would call the president and talk with him about that and tell him our concerns.' Johnson's comments come as House Republicans have limited the ability of individual members, namely Democrats, to force votes on repealing Trump's sprawling tariffs. If there was consensus among House Republicans about Trump's tariffs, Johnson added, he would lead the House in taking action, but he said he does not expect that to be necessary. Johnson and Trump have a close relationship, with the Speaker noting Tuesday morning he had already talked to the president twice earlier in the day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Iraq Business
28-04-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
EBRD Enables Expansion into Iraq
By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has amended its statutes, enabling it to expand operations into sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. According to a statement from the bank, this pivotal change redefines the Bank's geographic remit and follows approval by its Board of Governors in 2023. The amendment will formally take effect in three months. The move sets the stage for Iraq to become a full country of operation, alongside several sub-Saharan nations. Iraq, along with Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria, has already joined as a shareholder, while Senegal, Kenya, and Ghana are currently undergoing the membership process. Full statement from the EBRD: The shareholders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have accepted an amendment to Article 1 of the Bank's statutes, enabling the expansion of its operations to selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. Article 1 of the EBRD's statutes defines the Bank's purpose and its geographic remit for countries of operations. The Board of Governors approved this expansion in 2023 and the threshold of shareholder approval required for the amendment to Article 1 has now been met. The amendment will enter into force in three months' time. The announcement comes as the EBRD gears up for its 34th Annual Meeting, which will take place at the Bank's headquarters in Canary Wharf on 13-15 May 2025. The event - centred on the theme Expanding Horizons, Enduring Strengths - will mark the Annual Meeting's return to London for the first time since 2016. It will provide an opportunity for the Bank to emphasise its commitment to international cooperation and innovation as it enters a new phase in its history, advancing its unique business model to sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq and finalising its new Strategic and Capital Framework for the next five years. The EBRD has already welcomed Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Iraq as new shareholders, with Senegal, Kenya and Ghana currently undergoing the membership process. Once the countries become members, they must receive approval from the Board of Governors to become EBRD countries of operation. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said: "The modification of our Article 1 statute is a pivotal step towards the Bank's geographical expansion. It paves the way for our governors to grant recipient status to countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq, which will enable us to start operations in our first countries in the region." The EBRD currently has 75 national shareholders, in addition to the European Union and the European Investment Bank. The Bank supports countries in transition by using a combination of investment, advisory work and policy reform, with a focus on developing the private sector and bringing about sustainable change. (Source: EBRD)
