Posts for July 31, 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.

Districts urged to step up for next generation of teachers [EdSource, 7/30/15]: A report out this week urges California school districts to take a more assertive role in producing new teachers. A new half-billion-dollar appropriation to districts to improve teacher effectiveness presents the opening to do this, although more state encouragement and incentives would help, the study said.

http://edsource.org/2015/districts-urged-to-step-up-for-next-generation-of-teachers/83743

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:

The Never-Ending Story: More Attacks on Obamacare's 'Contraceptive Mandate [“On the Merits” blog, 7/30/15]: The Affordable Care Act is under attack on many fronts—politically and judicially. As Supreme Court watchers know, one frequent battleground is the act’s so-called contraceptive mandate.

http://www.bna.com/neverending-story-attacks-b17179934096/

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:

Eight Decades of Debate: a brief history of presidential primary clashes [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 7/30/15]: Next week begins what has become a regular presidential primary tradition: the debates. As a way of previewing them, we decided to look back at the history of primary debates. Readers may be surprised to learn that primary debates existed before the advent of televised general election debates in 1960. Less surprising is that the number of debates has been steadily increasing over time, although it appears that both parties will have fewer in 2016 than they did in their last competitive primary seasons (2012 for Republicans, 2008 for Democrats).

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/eight-decades-of-debate/

The Prospects for Presidential Election Reform as the 2016 Campaign Season Gets Underway [Justia, 7/31/15]: Professor Amar provides an update on the so-called National Popular Vote (NPV) interstate compact plan in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Arizona Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/07/31/the-prospects-for-presidential-election-reform-as-the-2016-campaign-season-gets-underway

New data show Trump could boost Clinton [McClatchy DC, 7/30/15]:  Donald Trump could do to the 2016 general election exactly what Ross Perot did a generation ago – with a Clinton pulling away from a Bush and a wealthy business mogul drawing a surprisingly large share of the vote. 

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article29623858.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

 

Governor allows parole for California school bus hijacker [AP, 7/30/15]: The governor of California on Thursday allowed parole for one of three men convicted in the 1976 kidnapping of 26 children and their school bus driver who were held captive in a buried trailer.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCHOOL_BUS_HIJACKING_PAROLE_CAOL

 

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:

ADA is 26 years old [Special Ed blog, 7/30/15]: In honor of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act, here are some fun facts from our friends at the Census Bureau.

http://specialeducationlawblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/ada-is-26-years-old.html