Posts for March 19, 2015
These are the posts that are accumulated in our
newsletter which goes out every 4-6 days. The posts are organized by the major
units in our Con Law (5th ed.) textbook
Civics program helps
students find their democratic voice [EdSource,
3/18/15]: Transit planner Stephen Newhouse didn’t know what to expect when he
was asked to evaluate a high school student project on transit options in a
neighboring county.
I. Introduction to Law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court [See TOPICS 1-10 in the 5th edition of Constitutional
Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to
this unit:
Roberts at 10 [Constitutional Accountability
Center, 3/19/15]: Roberts's Environmental Law Record -- It's Not Good, But
Don't Count Him Out.
II. Defining the Political System: Federalism and Checks and
Balances [See
TOPICS 11-15 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law]
Here are recent articles that are relevant to this unit:
III. The Political
System: Voting and Campaigns [See TOPICS 16-20 in the 5th edition of Constitutional
Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:
Why Is Al Gore Warming
Up? [The Atlantic / Nat. Journ.,
3/19/15]: 6 reasons for his reemergence
as a potential presidential candidate.
‘Shoot the gays’ initiative likely to be circulated [SF Chron, 3/18/15]: A Southern California attorney’s “shoot the gays” initiative is not destined to become law — for one thing, it’s clearly unconstitutional. But Attorney General Kamala Harris is scheduled to clear it for circulation in May, and she may not have any choice.
Identity Crisis [Linda Greenhouse in the NY Times,
3/19/15]: The Supreme Court's Identity Crisis on Voting Rights.
2016 Presidential Update: Clinton
Isn’t Going Anywhere…yet [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 3/19/15]: On the Republican side, Christie’s
moving in the wrong direction.
IV. Criminal Law and Procedure (4th,
5th, 6th, and 8th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent
articles that are relevant to this unit:
Are Overcrowded Prisons
Unconstitutional?
[Slate, 3/18/15]: It's time for the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Court rules former Paramus Catholic overseas
chaperones cannot be charged with sexual assault [NJ.com, 3/18/15]: Defense
attorneys and some legal experts, meanwhile, defended the ruling as one that was
based on a long-established principle that crimes should be prosecuted where
they were committed.
V. 1st Amendment (Speech, Religion, Press and
Assembly) [See TOPICS
29-33 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to
this unit:
Anti-Israel
ad can be barred from Seattle buses, appeals court rules [Reuters,
3/18/15]: ounty
officials in Seattle can prohibit an advertisement criticizing Israeli policies
toward Palestinians from appearing on local buses without violating
constitutional protections on free speech, a U.S. appeals court said on
Wednesday.
Does
your license plate speak for you or your state? [USA
Today, 3/18/15]: The
case combines one of the most basic legal concepts -- freedom of speech -- with
conundrums such as: Who is speaking, the government or the driver? Can subject
matter be limited, or specific viewpoints? Must states give equal time to both
sides of an issue -- say, both "Save the Sea Turtles" and "Kill
the Sea Turtles?"
VI. 14th Amendment, Discrimination, Privacy, Working,
Citizenship & Immigration [See
TOPICS 34-41 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to
this unit:
The Godmother of Gay Marriage: Edie
Windsor's Passionate Life [The Daily
Beast, 3/18/15]: After her partner Thea Spyer died, Edie Windsor was left with
a massive estate tax bill, just because they were gay; Her victorious fight has
redrawn the LGBT equality map.
International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
What Went Wrong with the FISA Court [The Brennan Center, 3/19/15]: The FISA Court
is a unique creature within the federal judiciary. This detailed report
discusses its creation and evolution.
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