Posts for August 6, 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.

California has recently revised the legislative website. Check it out:

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/

California statutes can be accessed at:

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml

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:

Obama Takes On Opponents of the Iran Deal [NY Times, 8/5/15]: President Obama on Wednesday made a powerful case for the strong and effective nuclear agreement with Iran. In a speech at American University, he directly rebutted critics like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and rightly warned of the damage to global security if the Republican-led Congress rejects the agreement.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/opinion/obama-takes-on-opponents-of-the-iran-deal.html

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:

The Angry American Voter [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 8/6/15]: As Republicans take the stage in Cleveland for their first presidential primary debate tonight -- with Donald Trump in the middle of it -- one thing is already abundantly clear: A lot of voters are angry. Very angry. In fact, a lot of voters have been angry for some time.

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/the-angry-american-voter/

GOP debate now must-see TV: Blame it on The Donald [SF Chron, 8/5/15]: Even before the first sound bite is thrown at the “Clash in Cleveland” Thursday night, Donald Trump has already become its marquee draw — one who has turned the first GOP televised presidential debate into must-see TV. And, like any good spectator sport, it will draw a wide audience.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/nation/article/GOP-debate-now-must-see-TV-Blame-it-on-The-Donald-6427470.php?t=d843ec4a08f294ee0d&cmpid=twitter-premium

5th Circuit Finds Texas Voter ID Law Biased [CNS, 8/5/15]: A Texas law that requires voters to come to the polls with certain photo identification discriminates against minorities, the Fifth Circuit affirmed Wednesday.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/05/5th-circuit-finds-texas-voter-id-law-biased.htm

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

No Firefighter Shortage Despite State's Shrinking Prison Population [CPR, 8/5/15]:  Of the more than 10,000 firefighters battling California wildfires right now, roughly 40 percent of them are criminals – inmates who participate in fire camps. There’s been some fear that the reduction in the state’s prison population might lead to a shortage of firefighters. But that fear hasn’t played out.

http://www.capradio.org/54610

San Francisco nudist seeking naked justice in nation’s capital [SF Chron, 8/5/15]:  George Davis, a veteran body freedom activist, is set to stand trial Aug. 11 on a charge of indecent exposure for the naked speech he made, or attempted to make, earlier this year on the National Mall in Washington D.C. 

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-nudist-seeking-naked-justice-in-nation-s-6427306.php

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:

The Hijacking of the Term “Religious Liberty” for Political Gain [Justia, 8/6/15]: Professor Hamilton explains how politicians have intentionally conflated constitutional religious liberty—which comes from the First Amendment of the Constitution—and statutory religious liberty—which originated in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993—for political gain. Hamilton describes the many differences between these two types of religious liberty and calls upon politicians and journalists to disambiguate the term.

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/08/06/the-hijacking-of-the-term-religious-liberty-for-political-gain

Indiana parent files suit against son’s teacher for disciplining him for expressing his atheist views to classmates [NSBA Legal Clips, 8/4/15]: The suit states A.B. and his classmates were playing before lunch on the school’s playground, on Feb. 23, when one of his classmates asked him if he went to church. A.B. told her he did not go to church and that he did not believe in God. According to court documents, this upset her, and she told him he hurt her feelings.  

http://legalclips.nsba.org/2015/08/04/indiana-parent-files-suit-against-sons-teacher-for-disciplining-him-for-expressing-his-atheist-views-to-classmates/

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: