The 12 Bizarre Laws of Christmas
The holiday season is chockful of some strange laws, so if you don’t want to be spending your gift money on fines or your cookie-baking time in jail, you might want to pay attention to the following rules that govern the holiday season.
The Scopes Monkey Trial
On May 5, 1925, Tennessee high school teacher John Scopes was charged with the crime of teaching his students about the science of human evolution. The Scopes Monkey Trial, as it came to be known, was a national spectacle, and continues to influence First Amendment interpretation today.
The History of Hawai‘i: How a Kingdom Became a State
The wildfires that ravaged the Hawai‘ian island of Maui and completely destroyed the city of Lahaina last month have rekindled conversations about the controversial history of how Hawai‘i came to be an American state in the first place.
The History of Minimum Wage in the United States
Millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet, working multiple jobs to make up for the fact that the federal minimum wage has not kept up with the rate of inflation. However, it hasn’t always been difficult to live off of a minimum wage job.
Forever Wild: The History of the Adirondack Park
New York State’s Adirondack Park is the largest state park outside of Alaska, consisting of six million acres of protected land in Upstate New York. Since 1892, these lands have been protected as “forever wild” by the New York State Constitution.
It’s Getting Hot in Here: How Climate Change Impacts Labor & Water Rights
2023 is on track to become the hottest year on record. Let’s take a look at two of our newest databases, Labor and Employment: The American Worker and Water Rights & Resources, to show the effects that climate change have on labor and water rights.
Obergefell v. Hodges: The Case that Legalized Same-Sex Marriage
On June 26, 2015, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry and gain federal marriage benefits in all U.S. states and territories. The case was Obergefell v. Hodges.
The Abortion Battle: What’s Happening Now
Since the repeal of Roe v. Wade, abortion has become a state issue, with state and even local governments now able to establish rules and regulations regarding whether a pregnant person can receive an abortion, and if so, under what conditions.
The Fine Print of Love: Uncovering the Not-So Unwritten Rules
Love is a many-splendored thing, but did you know that it’s also a thing of rules and regulations? Yes, love has its own set of laws, some of which are surprisingly absurd and quirky. If love is a crime, are you willing to serve the time?
Unclaimed Dead Bodies and the Law
Some deceased people go “unclaimed” and are left to the state. Each state law varies in the handling of unclaimed dead bodies. In fact, the only nationwide law that exists is for unclaimed veterans, who have their funeral and burial costs paid for.