Government Documents

Events on January 20th

Inauguration of the 47th President -- Donald Trump will be sworn in as latest president, only the second time a president has been elected to two non-consecutive terms. Grover Cleveland (22th & 24th) was the only other president to accomplish such a comeback.

For more information on this topic see the bibliography -- Presidential Inaugurations, January 20th

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day -- Monday, Jan. 20th is also a Federal holiday commemorating the civil-rights leader.

For more information on this topic see the LibGuide -- Gov Docs: Marting Luther King, Jr.

Topics in the News

The perennial question of which is better for America – the Daylight Saving Time (DST) or Standard Time (ST) – is once again in the news. Over the past several decades there have been many changes in the details of how to implement DST, but none have been permanent. The initial rationale for implementing DST was for energy saving, but the actual energy-saving benefits of DST is a matter of debate.

The reason that we adjust our clocks twice a year (“spring forward” and “fall back”) can be traced back to the year 1918 with the enactment of the Standard Time Act. The law was created “to save daylight and to provide standard time for the United States.” And authorized the nation’s first “Daylight Saving Time” to begin on the last Sunday of March and conclude on the last Sunday of October.

Over the years, Congress has amended time-change laws several times since then. The most significant change came with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. This law established a system of uniform daylight saving time throughout the United States and its possessions. Yet, daylight saving time is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona.

Today most Americans believe that the practice of the bi-annual changing of the clocks is out-of-date and unnecessary. But the debate remains, which should be the permanent choice for the time: daylight saving time (summertime) or standard time (winter time). Most health care professionals support standard time as being most friendly to the human body, while many lawmakers prefer keeping daylight saving time all year round.

In 1974, a trial attempt for having year-round daylight saving time was made to help mitigate an ongoing national gas crisis. While the proposal initially had popular support, the reality proved unpopular, with the majority of Americans finding difficulty in enduring the prolonged early-morning darkness in the winter. Ultimately the trial did not last a full year.

Recently, President-Elect Trump has stated his preference to eliminate daylight saving time, while at the same time Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has introduced a new bill, S.29, to make daylight saving time permanent. And so the debate goes on.

Native American and Alaska Native Heritage

Indian tribes are considered, by federal law, to be "domestic, dependent nations." Over 550 tribes are recognized by the U.S. federal government, while hundreds more are unrecognized. While tribal limitations mirror those of state sovereignty, they still have the right to form their own governments and courts, enforce civil and criminal laws, and much more. Today, contemporary activists are further advocating for issues such as the restoration of tribal lands, the protection of cultural traditions, and even taking more deliberate climate action. Consequently, Native American Heritage Month remains a holiday to honor those who came before and continue after.

We invite you now to browse some of our department’s resources and display of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage. The display can be found at Marx Library on 2nd Floor South with a pamphlet and 7-page bibliography for additional information.