It is one of the curiosities of the nation's capital that those who profess the greatest reverence for the Constitution want to mess with it the most.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi negotiators reached a breakthrough deal on the constitution Tuesday and at least one Sunni Arab party said it would now urge its followers to approve the charter in this weekend's referendum.

WASHINGTON - The narrow defeat of a proposal to ban flag desecration marks the second time in a month Senate Republicans have lost bids to amend the Constitution in ways designed to inspire social conservatives to vote in the midterm elections.

Skydivers floated around Gilbert Town Hall streaking the sky with comet trails, fireworks burst above plastic models of historic buildings and national monuments, red and blue balloons occasionally floated above the crowd, and London-born singer Alex Boyè, who became a U.S. citizen this year, sent the crowd into a screaming frenzy with his theme of world peace.

The murder rampage in Aurora, Colorado, has caused some to conclude that had more people in the movie theater been armed, perhaps 40 people would have been killed, and that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution “applies to ONLY those people who are in the militias.”

WASHINGTON - The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.

The first measure from the State Legislature came in 2007, when a constitutional amendment was proposed to make English the official language of the state. It was passed by voters by an overwhelming margin.

The U.S. House of Representatives, as it is periodically wont to do, last week approved by a comfortable 286-130 margin a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to outlaw flag burning as a form of political protest.

About this time 221 years ago, 42 delegates gathered behind locked, guarded doors to complete a document they spent four months creating: The U.S. Constitution. They had convened, under rule of secrecy, to hammer out a framework for a new government, and evidence shows they realized the importance of the work at hand.

In the blockbuster movie “National Treasure” starring Nicholas Cage, the Declaration of Independence was stolen by good guys to prevent the bad guys from stealing it. That’s Hollywood, but truth be known, it’s been stolen again — that and part of the original Constitution.

WASHINGTON - Rep. Elton Gallegly has argued for nearly 20 years that one way to fight illegal immigration would be to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people who enter the country illegally.

Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday she is open to the idea of denying automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants even though she conceded that's not what she was taught in school.

They may not be everyone’s idea of art. But the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Friday that tattoos are “expressive elements’’ of both the artist and the wearer.

Breaking with Republican leaders in the Senate, U.S. Sen. John McCain says he is not requesting hearings into the constitutional amendment that grants automatic citizenship to babies born in the United States, and doesn't support changing the Constitution.

Saying they are protecting the First Amendment rights of donors, the Republican-controlled state Senate voted Tuesday to remove all restrictions on how much any individual or political action committee can spend to influence elections.

Prepared text of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's State of the State speech:

Arizona’s monument to the Ten Commandments likely will remain near the state Capitol in Phoenix after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that a similar Texas display doesn’t endorse a religion.

Arizona’s monument to the Ten Commandments likely will remain near the state Capitol in Phoenix after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that a similar Texas display doesn’t endorse a religion.

It’s that time of year to hand out some honors for the year’s best. So it is without further ado that I bring you the Third Annual Hammer Awards.

February 2, 2005

A squabble between the U.S. Department of Justice and Arizona’s highest court could end up being decided by some federal judges.

Arizona would claim the right to determine citizenship of those born here under the terms of legislation being introduced today.

A state judge on Friday questioned efforts of foes of an open primary system to keep it from ever going to voters.

A University of Arizona physician has taken the first political steps in her bid to do medical marijuana research at state-run schools.