On April 25, 1792, highwayman Nicolas-Jacques Pelletier became the first person beheaded by the guillotine in France.
Learn more about the history of the guillotine.
On April 25, 1792, highwayman Nicolas-Jacques Pelletier became the first person beheaded by the guillotine in France.
Learn more about the history of the guillotine.
Kosovo declares independence from Serbia
On February 17, 2008 the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. While Serbia denounced the declaration as illegal, the international community has remained divided on this issue. Several nations including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Taiwan, and Turkey have recognized Kosovo's independence, but others such as Russia maintain that the declaration violates international law. The majority of countries and international organizations, including the UN, have yet to take a position on the legality of Kosovo's independence. The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo went into effect on June 15, 2008. Read the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
US Supreme Court ruled on equal Congressional districts
On February 17, 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Wesberry v. Sanders that congressional districts within each state had to be roughly equal in population. Learn more about Congressional redistricting from the Brennan Center for Justice.
