- 1789 – French Revolution: The National Constituent Assembly was formed from the National Assembly, and began to function as a governing body and a drafter for a new constitution.
- 1986 – The Parliament of New Zealand passed the Homosexual Law Reform Act, legalising consensual homosexual sex.
- 2002 – The African Union was formed as a successor to the amalgamated African Economic Community and the Organization of African Unity, with President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki as its first chairman.