Session Laws Library

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a fine for losing the receipt for the Christmas tree strapped on the roof of my car? Well, that would be the case if you live in Michigan. The holiday season is chockful of some strange laws, some of which were lifted years ago, but many of which are still in force. 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 laws that govern the holiday season.

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson[1] to overturn Roe v. Wade,[2] the court case that had established a constitutional right to an abortion. Since the decision, 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. Especially over the past few months, several states have updated their laws regarding abortion access. Using HeinOnline, let’s take a look at some of this new legislation.

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? This Valentine’s Day, let’s delve into the lesser-known laws of love.

If you’ve ever thought about your death, you’ve probably imagined your family and friends celebrating your life and remembering the good times. Maybe you’ll be buried in a cemetery next to a deceased relative, or cremated and kept as a reminder by those who love you. But that’s not the case for everyone. Some people go “unclaimed” and are left to the state.

Prior to the Civil War, African Americans weren’t allowed to receive an education. Black children weren’t allowed in schoolhouses. Many Black adults were unable to read, or even spell their own name. The Emancipation Proclamation may have freed the enslaved according to legislation, but truly, African Americans couldn’t achieve equality without education. And that’s where HBCUs, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities, came into play.

Witchcraft has been a subject of interest, derision, fear, and speculation since before our nation was built—and lucky for you, HeinOnline is brewing with resources where you can uncover more about the Salem Witch Trials and its impacts on today’s legal system.

While many of us hunkered down at home, mail carriers were on the streets six days a week, delivering stimulus checks, medical supplies, ballots, etc. to homes and businesses across the United States and its territories. But to understand the full scope of the postal service’s impact on Americans and the country as a whole, one must take a step back to consider how the history of mail delivery can be viewed as a microcosm of the history of our nation.

Advocates for animal rights consider anything less than this basic protection to be speciesism, a prejudice as irrational as that of racism or sexism. Critics, however, argue that humans are fundamentally different from nonhuman animals—only humans have developed moral systems, possess self-awareness and purpose, and can enter into a social contract; therefore, only humans possess inherent rights. On this International Animal Rights Day, explore the history of animal welfare, rights, and law in the United States.

What is a child? It may seem like a silly question, but the answer is more nuanced than one might think. In biology, the term refers to the state of the human being between birth and puberty. Legally, it refers to a person younger than a predetermined age of majority—the point in time when a person can take legal control over their actions and decisions. Symbolically, children have become much more. Much more consideration has been given to protecting the rights of children in both U.S. and international law since 1900. See the timeline below for an overview.