Amendment

• In the case of United States v. Carter, a court ruled that a defendant's race can be considered when determining if a police encounter qualifies as a "seizure" under the Fourth Amendment. • This decision shifts the legal standard from a single "reasonable person" to a calibrated perspective based on the individual's identity and geography. • Critics argue this approach moves away from objective judicial interpretation and toward "engineering outcomes" based on demographic factors.

Opposition says bill to prevent ‘foreign influence’ in elections gives ruling party carte blanche to annul will of votersSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Amid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico’s senate has passed ‌a constitutional amendment to include “foreign interference” as grounds to annul election results in the country.The bill, which was presented by the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as “illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic ⁠dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and ⁠the intervention of foreign governments ⁠or agencies”. Continue reading...

• Nigeria's Senate engaged in heated drama over amendments to its Standing Orders, attempting to impose stricter eligibility rules for the Senate Presidency to favor insiders ahead of 2027 elections. • The proposed changes, criticized as exclusionary by figures like Adams Oshiomhole, faced immediate legal scrutiny for constitutional contradictions, prompting an embarrassing U-turn. • Critics argue the episode highlights misplaced priorities amid national economic hardship, diverting focus from pressing public issues.

• The Nigerian Senate on May 8, 2026, reversed controversial amendments to its Standing Orders concerning the election of presiding officers due to concerns over constitutional inconsistencies. • It passed for second reading a bill sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong to amend the Electoral Act 2026, assigning Federal High Court original jurisdiction over pre-election disputes for National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly elections, with appeals to the Court of Appeal. • The Senate approved the N2.285 trillion 2026 Federal Capital Territory budget, allocating N1.741 trillion for capital projects to boost infrastructure in Abuja and satellite communities.

• Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has introduced an amendment aimed at ending birthright citizenship, a constitutional right that automatically grants citizenship to children born in the United States regardless of their parents' immigration status. • The proposal addresses immigration and border policy concerns, with Paul discussing the amendment's popularity during appearances on Fox News programs. • The amendment represents a significant legislative effort to restrict citizenship eligibility and reflects ongoing Republican focus on immigration reform and border security measures.

Bills are response to election petitions challenging Godwin Friday and fellow politician’s eligibility to be MPs because of dual citizenshipThe St Vincent and the Grenadines government has delayed a controversial effort to amend a section of the country’s constitution that the opposition says renders the prime minister ineligible for his position in parliament.Two bills, among six listed for the parliament session on Tuesday this week, were aimed at clarifying a section of the 1979 constitution governing the citizenship eligibility of members of parliament. Continue reading...

• A US judge issued an injunction favoring makers of the banned 'ICE Sightings - Chicagoland' Facebook group and Eyes Up app, alleging DHS and DOJ violated the First Amendment. • The Trump administration last year ordered platforms to remove apps tracking ICE activity, prompting legal pushback. • The ruling underscores tensions between national security and free speech in tech moderation, potentially affecting similar surveillance tools.

John Brennan says president who made volatile remarks about destroying Iranian civilization ‘is clearly unhinged’The former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan has added his name to growing calls for the president to be ousted on grounds that he is unfit for the job, arguing that the US constitution’s 25th amendment addressing involuntary removal from office was “written with Donald Trump in mind”.Brennan, who served as head of the spy agency during Barack Obama’s presidency, told MS Now on Saturday that Trump’s recent volatile remarks about destroying Iranian civilization and the danger he posed to so many lives merited his removal from the Oval Office. Continue reading...

• Diddy's legal team claims his alleged 'freak-off' parties involved amateur pornography, protected under the First Amendment, boosting chances of pretrial freedom today. • The defense argues the videos are not commercial and thus safeguarded, amid ongoing federal sex trafficking charges. • This constitutional defense could impact high-profile celebrity cases involving private recordings; release decision pending in New York court.

Over 70 Democratic lawmakers are calling for amendment to be invoked to remove Trump from office amid warDemocratic party leaders have vowed to renew the effort to curb Donald Trump’s war in Iran next week after several days of escalating tactics that culminated in a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday evening.In recent months, several war powers resolutions have failed in Congress after a handful of Democrats continued to vote alongside Republicans. But Trump’s aggressive overtures this week – including a Truth Social post that said “a whole civilization” could be wiped out if Iran didn’t agree to demands, have pushed some to act. Continue reading...

• The UN Security Council meeting on April 5, 2026, failed to pass a Ukraine ceasefire resolution after the US vetoed amendments proposed by Russia demanding NATO withdrawal from Eastern Europe. • US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield cited 'unacceptable preconditions' in the Russian text, while 12 members supported a neutral monitoring force of 5,000 troops. • This impasse highlights deepening geopolitical divides, prolonging humanitarian suffering with over 1.2 million displaced since January and risking broader NATO-Russia confrontation.

• Canada and Mexico initiated formal trilateral negotiations with the United States on Thursday to revise specific provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), focusing on energy sector regulations, labor standards enforcement, and digital trade frameworks. • The negotiations emerged following months of diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration over concerns regarding Chinese investment in Mexican manufacturing sectors and alleged labor standard enforcement gaps affecting North American supply chains. • Trade analysts estimate the negotiations could result in amendments affecting approximately $1.3 trillion in annual trilateral trade flows, with particular implications for automotive, agricultural, and energy sectors across the region.