Friday, November 20, 2015

Posts for November 20, 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.

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:

Sanders invokes FDR to defend democratic socialism [Politico, 11/19/15]: 'Almost everything he proposed, almost every program, every idea, was called 'socialist,'' Sanders says. 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)


House votes to block Syrian refugees despite White House veto threat [Politico, 11/19/15]: Tapping heightened safety concerns after the Paris terror attacks, House Republicans -- joined overwhelmingly by Democrats -- approved legislation Thursday effectively halting the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the U.S. 

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


New Jersey enacts law allowing medical marijuana at school [NSBA Legal Clips, 11/18/15]: This bill allows parents to give their sick and disabled children edible medical marijuana at school without putting themselves or educators at risk of arrest. However, marijuana possession remains a federal crime, despite the state’s medical marijuana law.

Donald Trump won’t rule out warrantless searches, ID cards for American Muslims [Wash Post, 11/19/15]: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has called for expanded surveillance of American Muslims, is refusing to rule out extreme measures that include warrantless searches or faith-based identification requirements. 

The Unfolding Campaign to Save the Death Penalty [The Marshall Project, 11/19/15]: Supporters rally around a more efficient system of execution.

Adjusting IQ Scores so More Minorities Are Eligible for the Death Penalty [Justia, 11/20/15]: Professor Colb discusses the claim that IQ scores of minorities should be upwardly adjusted for the purpose of eligibility for the death penalty.

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:

Former Mississippi student who was suspended for posting rap song online has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court [SPLC / EdLawProfs blog, 11/19/15]: The U.S. Supreme Court will be asked to consider whether to hear a case that could have rippling effects on high school students’ off-campus and online speech. If the Supreme Court accepts the case, it would be the first time the justices address school discipline of speech outside of the school campus posted to social media websites.
You can read the 5th Circuit opinion in Bell v. Itawamba County School Board at:
Here is Taylor Bell’s petition for cert:

Common themes bind Southern California college students seeking change [Inland County Daily Bulletin, 11/19/15]: College students across Southern California and the nation are organizing in ways not seen in decades. 

Want to terrorize a terrorist? Try a bit of ‘freedom’ [Newseum, 11/19/15]: Want to know how to terrorize a terrorist? Read the 45 words of the First Amendment – preferably aloud.  

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:

Advocacy group threatening Tennessee district with suit over district’s refusal to scrap textbooks with alleged pro-Muslim bias [NSBA Legal Clips, 11/18/15]: The White County Board of Education voted unanimously to hire an attorney to represent them in this potential legal battle. According to the Citizens Against Islamic Indoctrination, the school district is working in secret to approve the textbooks. The school board is receiving support from the group Association for Accurate Standards in Education, whose members reject accusations that the board has acted improperly.

Suit accuses New York state district of discriminating against refugees [NSBA Legal Clips, 11/19/15]: The State of New York’s Attorney General has filed suit against Utica City School District alleging that the school district refused to enroll refugee children because of their age and their unsteady English.

North Carolina charter school suspends all student club activities after some in the community complain about school officially recognizing LGBT student club [NSBA Legal Clips, 11/17/15]: Along with suspending all club activity, the board also adopted a new policy on posters. According to the new policy, all club posters must have a stamp of approval from the school director and can only be placed on designated club bulletin boards on the middle and high school hallways.

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


Why fewer Mexicans are leaving their homeland for the U.S. [AP, 11/19/15]: To its southern neighbor, the United States once represented hope, safety and prosperity. But with the effects of the Great Recession still lingering and tougher enforcement along the U.S. border, fewer Mexicans see a reason to leave their homeland.


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