Posts for August 30, 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:

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:

Joe Biden and the Democratic Vacuum [The Atlantic, 8/29/15]: Nervous Democrats are looking for alternatives as Hillary Clinton falters. But is the VP the right person for the job? 

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/joe-biden-and-the-democratic-vacuum/402694/

Deep in minority, Dems look to redistricting for hope [The Hill, 8/29/15]: Facing long odds at retaking the House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Democrats are pushing hard for redistricting reform as a potential route back into control of the lower chamber. The legislation is not new –– many Democrats, including Pelosi, have been advocating for independent redistricting panels for at least a decade –– nor is it going anywhere in a Congress led by Republicans who are benefitting handsomely under the current process. 

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/252226-deep-in-minority-dems-look-to-redistricting-for-hope

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

California Death Penalty, Struck Down Over Delays, Faces Next Test [NY Times, 8/30/15]: Whether California’s application of the death penalty is so drawn out and arbitrary that it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment will be argued on Monday before a federal appeals court in Pasadena.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/30/us/california-death-penalty-struck-down-over-delays-faces-next-test.html?_r=0

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:

International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]

UN Secretary General urges global community to address migration issues [Jurist, 8/29/15]: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged the global community to develop comprehensive solutions to allow for safe and legal migration after 70 bodies, believed to be Syrian asylum seekers, were discovered in a truck near the Austria-Hungary border.

http://jurist.org/paperchase/2015/08/un-secretary-general-urges-global-community-to-address-migration-issues.php