NEWS WRAP

No funding to support Israel without new House speaker

• Jim Jordan floor vote flop | Pushed to a floor vote on Tuesday, Representative Jim Jordan failed to get the required number of votes to secure the role of Speaker of the House with 20 Republicans refusing to vote for him. The speakership has now been vacant for two weeks, with no pathway forward to fund support for the crisis in Israel until a successor to Kevin McCarthy is confirmed. READ MORE HERE
   

• “Unregistered agent” charges for Sen. Menendez | In addition to charges that he accepted bribes, embattled Senator Bob Menendez has now been accused of acting as an unregistered foreign agent by sharing “sensitive US government information” with Egypt. According to the indictment, this information included details of American and local US embassy staff in Cairo, which could put government agents at risk. READ MORE HERE
   

• Xi’s ‘dear friend’ Putin in Beijing | After touching down in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted an official banquet in honour of Russian President Vladimir Putin, categorising the relationship as “dear friends”. This is Putin’s first trip to visit a major global power since his invasion of Ukraine at the start of 2022. READ MORE HERE
   

• Trump gagged | Former president Donald Trump was subject to a limited gag order in his trial regarding his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Citing “a real risk that witnesses may be intimidated” following Trump’s social media posts and prior history of going after opponents, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan banned him from attacking prosecutor Jack Smith, court staff and witnesses. Trump’s team quickly moved to say they would appeal, which could delay the trial, due to start in March. READ MORE HERE
   

• Ukraine deploys new US missiles | As the war in Ukraine edges closer to a potentially significant winter turning point, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the use of new US ATACMS for the first time. The missiles were delivered in secret and are in range to target most Russian bases used for supplying troops. READ MORE HERE

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Did you USSC?

• REPORT | Before the window closes: Australia-South Korea defence cooperation in a new strategic era
  With alliances across the Indo Pacific more important than ever, what can be done to give better expression to the latent potential in the Australia-South Korea defence relationship? Research Fellow in the USSC Foreign Policy and Defence team Tom Corben explores the context and foundations of the Australia-South Korea relationship and recommendations to best chart its future. READ THE REPORT
   

• PODCAST | USSC Briefing Room Behind the scenes of a US state visit
  Ahead of Albanese’s official visit to the United States next week, get all the insider knowledge about what it’s like behind the scenes from two USSC experts who have previously staffed state visits, Dr Michael J Green and Dr John Kunkel, in the latest episode of the Briefing Room. LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
   

• LATEST UPDATES | Where the ‘other’ 2024 Republican candidates stand on Australia and the world 
  Self-titled underdog of the GOP presidential race, Doug Burgum, took his first major stab at a foreign policy agenda this week. What does he have to say about China, trade and Asian alliances? Read the latest from Research Associates Samuel Garrett and Ava Kalinauskas in the USSC's tracker of GOP candidates. READ THE LATEST

EVENT

Sydney International Strategy Forum

The inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum brings together prominent thought leaders, policymakers and industry experts to tackle the big issues confronting Australia, the United States and the Indo-Pacific. From bolstering supply chain resilience to turning AUKUS into reality, the forum will discuss the enormous opportunities and risks posed by such cross-cutting challenges and what they mean for the future of our region. Read more here.

Tickets are still available, but strictly limited. Register now to secure your spot.

TYPE
Conference

WHERE
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, 199 George Street, The Rocks NSW

WHEN
SYDNEY | 1 November 2023. 8.30am–4.30pm

COST
Ticket prices Student: $180 Full price: $560

BY THE NUMBERS

How to change the Australian and US constitutions

By Victoria Cooper, Research Editor

Over the weekend, Australians voted against a proposal which would have amended the Australian Constitution to recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The vote, known as a referendum, is the only way the Australian Constitution can be changed and requires a ‘double majority’ – a national majority of voters and at least four of the country’s six states – to pass. There have been 45 referendums since the Australian Constitution took effect in 1901; only eight have been successful, and none without bipartisan support.

By contrast, the US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification in 1789. Changes to the US Constitution do not involve a compulsory vote. Instead, constitutional changes require an onerous proposal and ratification process whereby an amendment proposal is requested by either a two-thirds vote of both legislative chambers, or two-thirds of states; and then is ratified by three-quarters of the US State legislatures or three-quarters of state ratifying conventions in each state. While the US Constitution has been changed more than the Australian Constitution, it has also faced approximately 11,848 proposals for amendment.

THE WEEK IN TWEETS

#AgreeingToDisagree