Posts for September 23, 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 (5th ed.) student textbook.
Walters: California has
skirmishes all around in school war [Sac
Bee, 9/22/15]: The epic war between California’s education establishment and a
loose coalition of school reform and civil rights groups rages on many fronts.
Achievement gap points to ineffectiveness of decades of
reforms [EdSource,
9/22/15]: The vast achievement gaps in
the Smarter Balanced test scores released this month point to the
ineffectiveness of reforms over the past 15 years or more that were intended to
close those gaps, raising the question of whether a new set of reforms being
implemented in California are more likely to succeed.
I.
Introduction to Law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court [See TOPICS 1-10 in the 5th 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 5th
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 5th edition of Constitutional
Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:
Six Republican Presidential Candidates in Search of
the Constitution [Justia, 9/23/15]: Professor Dorf
discusses the second GOP presidential debate and the candidates’ varied, often
concerning, interpretations of the U.S. Constitution.
Bloomberg Poll: Joe Biden
Now Top Presidential Choice for 1 in 4 Democrats [Bloomberg, 9/23/15]: As Hillary Clinton's
ratings tumble, nearly half of those surveyed say they want the vice president
in the race.
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)
Why Republicans just
might be okay with another government shutdown [Wash Post, 9/22/15]: During and after the
shutdown, there were regular reports that the damage to the GOP would hurt
their chances the following November. It didn't. Republicans gained a dozen
seats in the House (earning their biggest majority since the Great Depression)
and retook the Senate.
US Senate votes against
20-week abortion ban bill [Jurist, 9/23/15]: The US
Senate on Tuesday voted against a bill that would ban abortions after 20
weeks of gestation. Supporters of the bill, which needed 60 votes but only
received 54, contend that fetuses begin to feel pain around this time in the
gestation period. All but two Senate democrats voted nay.
IV. Criminal Law and Procedure (4th,
5th, 6th, and 8th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent
articles that are relevant to this unit
Majority of San Francisco
Supervisors Back ‘Idaho Stop’ Proposal for Cyclists [KQED, 9/22/15]: At least six of the 11 members of the San
Francisco Board of Supervisors back a proposed ordinance that would, in effect,
allow bicyclists in the city to roll through stop signs as long as they take
care to “safely yield” to pedestrians and other traffic.
http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/09/22/majority-of-s-f-supervisors-back-idaho-stop-proposal-for-cyclists
Alternatives to Bullets [The Marshall Project, 9/23/15]: From liquids that
smell like dead animals to high-temperature heat rays, the present and future
of non-lethal weapons.
V. 1st
Amendment (Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly) [See TOPICS 29-33 in the 5th
edition of Constitutional Law] Here are
some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:
'Happy Birthday,' and Its Millions, Are Public
Domain, Judge Says [CNS, 9/23/15]: Warner/Chappell Music's claim to own the copyright to
"Happy Birthday" is "implausible and unreasonable," a
federal judge ruled Tuesday, ending - perhaps - a long-running claim by which
the publisher has made millions of dollars.
China’s Political Prisoners [Newseum,
9/22/15]: With more journalists and dissidents jailed than any other country,
China epitomizes the censorship of free expression. In light of Chinese
President Xi Jinping’s meeting on Sept. 25 with President Barack Obama, the
Newseum is offering a series of programs and exhibits highlighting China’s
record on human rights and individual freedom.
Controversial Transit Ads: Destination Supreme Court? [Newseum, 9/22/15]: The U.S. Supreme Court may well wade into the
troubled waters of advertising on city transportation if it decides to review a
case involving the rejection of highly charged political ads in Boston.
VI. 14th
Amendment, Discrimination, Privacy, Working, Citizenship & Immigration [See TOPICS 34-41 in the 5th edition of Constitutional
Law]
Here are some recent articles that are
relevant to this unit:
School Funding articles are coming
in from all over
[Ed Law Profs Blog / CNS, 9/23/15]: See the latest compilation at the Education
Law ProfBlog and the Courthouse News Service:
If you are
following the Vergara v. California teacher tenure case, check out the flurry
of legal filings at the Student Matters website [9/16/15]:
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