Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter

NEWS ABOUT: political reform

political reform stories: 8 news summaries

Zimbabwe Sees Hope as Mugabe's Grip Weakens

Bread is affordable, kids go to school—but there's a long way to go

Mar 20, 09 8:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - Gains are fragile and much work remains, but opposition lawmakers in Zimbabwe's new coalition government finally see hope that they can weaken Robert Mugabe and put the nation on track, the New York Times reports. Donor nations are pressuring for better economic policies, a free press, and other reforms, and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • political reform • coalition government • Zanu-PF

OPINION

 The Vice Presidency Must Go 

Founding fathers created institution in very different context

Oct 2, 08 4:57 PM CDT
(Newser) - Few countries have vice presidents, and the US shouldn’t either, Bruce Ackerman writes in the LA Times. The founding fathers established the office as a consolation prize, the Yale law and political science professor explains, and it's morphed into a ticket-balancing slot. "This isn't a question on which... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • political reform • vice president • electoral reform • Sarah Palin • Office of the Vice President

Iraq Passes Election Law,
But Skirts Key Issues

No deal on control over northern oil hub, representation of minority groups

Sep 24, 08 1:29 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Iraqi parliament today passed a long-delayed law establishing provincial elections, a step the government hopes will protect recent security gains by opening the political process. The first elections are expected in January, the New York Times reports, but questions remain about how to ensure representation for Iraq’s religious... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • law • political reform • Iraq parliament • Kirkuk • Iraq security • provincial elections

Sarkozy 's Reform Bill Passes By a Hair

Move to rewrite French constitution has critics crying 'monocracy!'

Jul 22, 08 9:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the passing yesterday of a constitutional reform, fulfilling a key campaign pledge. The overhaul of parliamentary and executive powers passed in the assembly and senate by a single vote, capturing 539 votes when it needed 538, the BBC reports. The opposition says the change will... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Nicolas Sarkozy • France • constitution • political reform • executive power

ANALYSIS

McCain Again Banking on Reform Rep

Campaign finance, particularly, re-enters candidate's public line

Jul 16, 08 2:38 PM CDT
(Newser) - After shying away from the issue for some time, John McCain is returning to his credentials as a crusader for campaign-finance reform, Politico notes. In an attempt to woo independent voters, the Republican is underlining his reputation as a Washington reformer, while coping with flak from small-government conservatives within his... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • political reform • Campaign Finance Reform • Teddy Roosevelt

opinion

 Dr. Obama and Mr. Hyde 

'High-minded' candidate is also cutthroat political animal

Jun 20, 08 5:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama has two faces: there’s the "high-minded" liberal “Dr. Barack” and the politically calculating, win at-all-costs “Fast Eddie Obama,” writes David Brooks in the New York Times. The split personality clearly emerged in Obama’s announcement that he won’t accept public financing—a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • campaign finance • political reform • political persona • campaign fundraising • public financing

China Eases Up Slightly
on Tiananmen Anniversary

Government allows memorials for the first time

Jun 5, 07 9:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - As part of its campaign to attract Western visitors to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China allowed Tiananmen Square memorials this year for the first time since the protests of June 4, 1989. The government maintains that the uprising was a counterrevolutionary riot and refuses to release details; a security crackdown... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • Hong Kong • Beijing • Tiananmen Square • 2008 Beijing Olympics • protests • political reform • Olympic Games

Chinese Talk
The Talk On Democracy 

Officials court support by permitting calls for political reform

Apr 20, 07 12:26 PM CDT
(Newser) - It's spring in China, and calls for democracy are in bloom, the New York Times reports. Articles are about the need for political reform are being published—even encouraged—and leaders are promising openness. But the outburst of rhetoric has more to do with the political calendar than with an... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • politics • democracy • government • reform • political reform

8 Stories


from our news partners