Posts for June 8, 2015

These are the posts that are accumulated in our newsletter which goes out every 4-6 days during the school year. The posts are organized by the major units in our Con Law (5^th ed.) student 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:

Has the Supreme Court become less ideological? [Posner blog, 6/7/15]: Or, maybe I should have asked: Have the Republicans on the court become less ideological?

http://ericposner.com/has-the-supreme-court-become-less-ideological/

After 800 years, Britain finally asks: Do we need a written constitution? [Wash Post, 6/7/15]: Eight-hundred years ago this month, rebellious barons and a despised, cash-strapped king gathered in a verdant riverside meadow 20 miles outside London to seal an agreement that would change the course of history.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/after-800-years-britain-finally-asks-do-we-need-a-written-constitution/2015/06/07/6097b50c-e908-11e4-8581-633c536add4b_story.html

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:

Supreme Court declines potentially key Second Amendment case [CSM, 6/8/15]: The US Supreme Court let stand a San Francisco ordinance that requires handgun owners to store weapons in a lock box or with a trigger lock.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2015/0608/Supreme-Court-declines-potentially-key-Second-Amendment-case

Obama: Court should even have heard the Obamacare case [AP, 6/8/15]: President Barack Obama says the U.S. Supreme Court probably shouldn't have taken up the latest challenges to his signature health care law.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_HEALTH_OVERHAUL

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Supreme Court upholds president on passport place-of-birth case [McClatchy DC / Reuters, 6/8/15]: A divided Supreme Court on Monday sided with the president over Congress in a politically charged passport case, concluding the Executive Branch has the “exclusive power” to formally recognize foreign sovereigns.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/06/08/269197/supreme-court-upholds-president.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/08/usa-court-jerusalem-idUSL1N0YU0T720150608

Read the decision in Zivotofsky v. Kerry at:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/13-628_l5gm.pdf

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:

Counting Everyone for 'One Person, One Vote [Jost on Justice, 6/8/15]: Read Jost’s analysis of the upcoming case….

http://jostonjustice.blogspot.com/2015/06/counting-everyone-for-one-person-one.html

Not Everyone Hates Citizens United [Slate, 6/7/15]: The landmark campaign finance ruling made local TV stations very, very rich.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2015/06/citizens_united_is_making_local_tv_rich_here_s_why.html

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

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:

Griswold v. Connecticut: The Start of the Revolution [Justia, 6/8/15]:  For the fifty-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, Professor Grossman discusses the role of Griswold and its influence on constitutional jurisprudence. 

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/06/08/griswold-v-connecticut-the-start-of-the-revolution