Posts for March 24, 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 (5^th ed.) textbook

I. Introduction to Law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court [See TOPICS 1-10 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

II. Defining the Political System: Federalism and Checks and Balances [See TOPICS 11-15 in the 5^th 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 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Myers: Is It Too Easy to Submit Unusual (or Crazy) Ballot Initiatives in California? [KQED, 3/24/15]:History books are filled with patriotic prose about how a generation of Californians, fighting back against wealthy political powers, embraced the idea of circumventing elected officials in favor of laws written by citizens. 

http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/03/23/is-it-too-easy-to-submit-unusual-or-crazy-california-ballot-initiatives/

Ted Cruz’s climate change statements delight Democrats [SF Chron, 3/24/15]: The war of words over climate change is getting blisteringly hot between Gov. Jerry Brown and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, with the Republican presidential candidate blithely dismissing the Democratic governor as one of those “global warming alarmists” who relies on ridicule and insult. 

http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Democrats-delighted-by-Ted-Cruz-s-statements-on-6153423.php?t=d8b10206ce972bc8cd&cmpid=twitter-premium

IV. Criminal Law and Procedure (4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Two Supreme Court Justices Say Criminal-Justice System Isn't Working [WSJ, 3/24/15]: Justice Breyer says mandatory minimum sentences are 'a terrible idea

http://www.wsj.com/article_email/two-supreme-court-justices-say-criminal-justice-system-isnt-working-1427197613-lMyQjAxMTA1NTIzNDUyNTQyWj

The Case for the Firing Squad [Bloomberg, 3/24/15]: As Utah brings back execution by bullet, and other states weigh a change, some argue that the firing squad is the most humane method.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/the-case-for-the-firing-squad

V. 1^st Amendment (Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly) [See TOPICS 29-33 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

VI. 14^th Amendment, Discrimination, Privacy, Working, Citizenship & Immigration [See TOPICS 34-41 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Thousands of LAUSD teachers to boycott faculty meetings Tuesday –[MyNewsLA, 3/24/15]: Despite warnings that their salaries will be docked, thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District teachers plan to boycott faculty meetings Tuesday as part of their union’s push for higher wages.

http://mynewsla.com/education/2015/03/23/thousands-of-lausd-teachers-to-boycott-faculty-meetings-tuesday/