Thursday, December 24, 2015

Posts for December 24, 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:

An empirical analysis of emotional language in legal briefs before the Supreme Court [SCOTUS blog, 12/22/15]: Supreme Court opinions in recent years have employed controversial emotional language aimed to tug at the heart strings and to provoke ire.

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:

New move to block Hawaii tribal nation [SCOTUS blog, 12/23/15]: A group of Hawaiians challenging the move to set up a new “native Hawaiian” nation within the state returned to the Supreme Court Tuesday, seeking an order to hold the organizers in contempt and further orders to stop the entire process toward establishing sovereignty.

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:

Donald Trump leads an insane white cult — and Pat Buchanan just explained how it works [Salon, 12/23/15]: GOP front-runner leads cult of personality centered around white alienation, racial resentment and authoritarianism.
Presidential Battle Fuels Republican Worries Over Senate [WSJ, 12/23/15]: Centrist Republicans are alarmed over the potential impact of nominating Donald Trump or Ted Cruz on efforts to retain seats. 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)


Prop. 8 Ruling Could Haunt Future Ballot Initiatives [CPR, 12/23/15]: Two years before the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage a constitutional right, it issued a decision on California's ban that could have repercussions on future voter initiatives.

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


What Everyone Gets Wrong About Christmas Pardons [The Marshall Project, 12/23/15]: It’s not true that prisoners get released during the holidays.

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:

The Supreme Court Is Cray If It Doesn't Listen To Killer Mike [Huff Post, 12/23/15]: This time the justices should see rap for what it is: music.

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:

California Expanding Equal Pay Law [CPR, 12/23/15]: A new law taking effect prohibits employers for paying men and women differently for "substantially similar work." The existing law only specifies pay must be the same for "equal work" - a definition courts have interpreted narrowly.

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


9/11 judge shields Guantanamo captive's 'misogynistic rant' about female guards from public record [Miami Herald, 12/23/15]: In the latest episode of a now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t Guantánamo war court record, the judge in the Sept. 11 trial retroactively sealed what one prosecutor called “the misogynistic rantings” of an accused 9/11 plot deputy.

No comments:

Post a Comment