[LEAPSECS] Calendar authority

[Gerard Ashton]

Using the USA as an example, the constitutional provision giving the federal
government
authority over standards of weight and measure arguably gives it authority
over time-of-day.
Their success in regulating time zones and legal recognition of UTC as the
basis of time
tends to confirm this authority. But at the time of the ratification of the
constitution
calendars were probably thought of as counting rather than measuring, so
authority
over calendars might belong to the states. New York seems to think so; it,
unlike the
federal government, has a law recognizing the Gregorian calendar.

Gerry Ashton

Mr. Feather wrote:

   Indeed. [Authority over calendars] is clearly something in the remit of
national governments.
   See, for example, 24 Geo.2 c.23 or the decision of the National
Convention on 1793-10-24.