Assesses the emerging political party system and searches for lessons from the country’s historic pattern of election-related conflict. From the United States Institute of Peace

Annual report from an independent advisory body of the U.S. government that monitors religious freedom worldwide and makes policy recommendations to the executive and legislative branches.  From the Commission

Looks at the fragile nature of Malian democracy before the 2012 coup and the origins of the current crisis.  From the United States Institute of Peace

Reports the progress through the second  reading of the bill that would introduce civil marriage for same sex couples in Great Britain.  House of Commons Library Research Paper 13/22

More on the rules for electing a pope as recently revised.  From the Law Library of Congress

Focuses on the rules concerning papal succession.  From the Law Library of Congress

From a blog at the Law Library of Congress.

British legislation that would introduce civil marriage for same sex couples and enable religious organizations to conduct same sex marriages if they wish to do so.  House of Commons Library Research Paper 13/08.

This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots/attacks that have occurred since 9/11.  It also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reports on the recent Sunni-Shia sectarian conflict in a previously relatively peaceful mountainous region of Pakistan and offers ideas for how to reduce the strife.  From the United States Institute of Peace

Analyzes the major security threat to Russia, the Islamist insurgency campaign in the North Caucasus.  From the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College

Examines the relevance of the “law of armed conflict” and other doctrines to questions about the legality of targeting and killing U.S. citizens away from a battlefield in this memorandum prepared for members of Congress.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reviews state views on when recording a conversation without the consent of all parties is illegal or unethical.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report tracks the history of religious peacebuilding with special attention to the Arab Spring and anxieties in the West about religion’s support for nonviolence.  From the United States Institute of Peace

Reports on respect for freedom of religion in the countries of the world.  From the State Department

Discusses important issues in Nigerian-U.S. relations including energy resources, foreign trade, economic development, political corruption, and ethnic strife.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Describes the features and exceptions of the proposed law which would prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by private and public sector employers.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Boko Haram is an Islamic sect, centered in northern Nigeria, that wants to take over the country and create a pure Islamic state under sharia law.  This report discusses the group’s aims, methods, and the mistakes of the government that have allowed it to grow.  It also describes how the group differs from al Qaeda and al-Shabaab.  From the United States Institute of Peace

Reviews notable developments in the relations between the two countries in 2011 and 2012, especially anger over the drone strikes, the Afghan insurgency, and Islamic militancy.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report analyzes certain constitutional issues raised by requiring individuals to purchase health insurance under Congress’s taxing power or its power to regulate interstate commerce, whether exceptions  to the minimum coverage provisions satisfy First Amendment freedom of religion protections,  and some of the more publicized legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reviews the deterioration of political relations between Sunni and Shiite factions of the Iraqi government since December 2011, the causes for the deterioration, and the legacy of U.S. involvement in Iraq.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Attempts to gather and analyze laws, practices, and cases relating to the violation of organ transplantation laws.  From the European Commission

Reviews the role Kuwait has played in U.S. efforts to contain Iraq over the past two decades and current issues relating to human rights, economic policy, and Islamic militancy in a country largely spared the turmoil of Arab Spring reform demands.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Discusses efforts to create laws against forced marriage in the United Kingdom.  The aim of the legislation is to provide civil remedies for those faced with forced marriage and for victims of forced marriage.  At present, forced marriage in England and Wales is not a specific criminal offense.  Although forced marriage is sometimes discussed as a religious practice, no major world faith condones it.  From the Library of the House of Commons

Argues that the recent burning of the Korans in Afghanistan shows the need for more training in culture and religion for U.S. personnel in foreign countries.  Also shows need to convince local religious leaders to promote tolerant, nonviolent reactions, even to incendiary events.   From the United States Institute of Peace

Proposed rule which announces policy that would provide women with access to recommended preventive services including contraceptives without cost sharing while ensuring that religious organizations are not forced to provide contraceptive services they object to on religious grounds.  From the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Register

Provides information about the offense of assisting a terminally-ill person to commit suicide when the person may not be able to do so without the assistance of family or friends.  Follows a January 2012 report from the Demos think-tank calling for development of a new legal framework for assisted suicide in Britain.  Reviews past cases and attempts to revise the law.  From the Library of the House of Commons

Genetic tests for predisposition to diseases are being marketed directly to consumers over the Internet.  This note explores the scientific, regulatory, and ethical issues related to such products.  From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Provides access to records on campaign finance, lobbying, visitors to White House, and government travel reports.  From the White House

This report traces an American’s progression from average childhood to violent Islamist extremism and the importance of social media in radicalization and recruitment.  From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.