Posts for October 25, 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.

Obama Administration Calls for Limits on Testing in Schools [Politico, 10/24/15]:  Faced with mounting and bipartisan opposition to increased and often high-stakes testing in the nation’s public schools, the Obama administration declared Saturday that the push had gone too far, acknowledged its own role in the proliferation of tests, and urged schools to step back and make exams less onerous and more purposeful.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/education-department-too-much-testing-215131

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:

At SCOTUS, Today's Dissent Can Become Tomorrow's Majority Opinion [Reason, 10/22/15]: Examining the role of dissenting opinions in U.S. legal history.

https://reason.com/blog/2015/10/22/at-scotus-todays-dissent-can-become-tomo

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 Ben's Chili Bowl recruiting strategy for Obamacare [Politico, 10/24/15]:  The renowned D.C. eatery will serve up health insurance along with its half-smokes late at night as part of the drive to sign up many of the remaining uninsured — particularly the so-called young invincibles amid signs that Obamacare enrollment is trending older and sicker. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/obamacare-young-people-enrollment-215127

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:

Feinstein on Clinton: ‘I could see her across the table from Putin’ [McClatchy DC, 10/23/15]:  Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was “presidential” in her testimony in a House of Representatives hearing this week and would have no trouble facing leaders such as Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. 

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article41276691.html

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

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

The secrets of the death penalty [Atlanta Journ-Constitution, 10/24/15]: One of the state's most important acts -- that of putting someone to death -- is also one of its most secretive activities.

http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local/the-secrets-of-the-death-penalty/nn7fN/

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: