Posts for December 4, 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:
Constitution Check: Do U.S. laws protect Americans traveling overseas? [Constitution Center, 12/2/15]: Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s
constitutional literacy adviser, looks at the question whether Americans taking
overseas journeys have American legal protection to accompany them.
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:
What to Watch as Court Weighs Fate
of Net Neutrality
[Nat. Journ., 12/3/15]: Here are the main arguments broadband industry lawyers
will make Friday to try to kill the FCC's rules.
Gun control in a blue state:
It’s more complicated than you’d think [CalMatters / AP, 12/1/15]: This week’s shooting in San Bernardino comes
as a debate over gun control that has divided Democrats in the state Capitol
could head to the voters of California next year.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Rifles-in-Calif-shooting-legal-in-state-with-6673375.php
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:
The Return of the Arizona Independent Redistricting
Commission (AIRC) before the Supreme Court: The Harris v. AIRC Case Argued Next
Week [Justia, 12/4/15]:
Professor Amar discusses a case in which the
U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next week—Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. As
Amar points out, that case lies at the intersection of many contentious aspects
of 21st century American democracy, including dissatisfaction with elected
officials, partisan zeal, racial equality, and federal–state relations.
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)
No Child Left Behind
rewrite works for California [EdSource,
12/3/15]: By month’s end, Congress is expected to pass and President Obama is
expected to sign the successor to the No Child Left Behind Act, giving all
states the latitude to broadly define student achievement and shape school improvement
in ways that California already has been doing.
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
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:
Millennial generation
more likely to support censorship [FAC, 12/3/15]: A study by the Pew Research Center shows that
Millennials (ages 18-34) are less likely than other generations to support free
speech. Four in ten of that generation say that the government should be able
to ban public statements offensive to minority groups.
Sheriff Dart, Meet the First
Amendment [Slate,
12/1/15]: In a scathingly funny opinion, Judge Posner smacks down a puritanical
sheriff's intimidation campaign against adult ads.
Conservatives accuse Washington Post of attacking
free speech in Planned Parenthood article [FAC, 12/3/15]: Conservative commentators are taking The Washington
Post to task for a story quoting pro choice advocates that free speech led to
the recent mass shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic on November
17.
ACLU suit claims that Tennessee district’s ban on
wearing pro-LGBT shirt at school violates student’s free speech rights [NSBA Legal Clips, 12/1/15]: Rebecca Young, a student at RHS, wore a pro-LGBT
T-shirt on the first day of school captioned “Some People Are Gay, Get
Over It.” The suit claims that RHS Principal Micah Landers publicly reprimanded
Young for wearing the T-shirt. It also alleges that Landers
told Young she could not wear the T-shirt to school because it made her a
target for bullying and provoked other students.
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:
At Texas' flagship university, many fear
for diversity [USA Today,
12/2/15]: Garrett Maples came to the
University of Texas from an almost all-white high school north of
here in Liberty Hill. Xavier Rotnofsky arrived from the Mexico border city
of Laredo, which is 95% Hispanic. Danielle Smith traveled west from
Houston, along with a healthy number of fellow African-American students.
Each has thrived at Texas' flagship university, where much of the learning
process occurs through osmosis.
Keep up-to-date in the Friedrichs
v. C.T.A. case to be argued on January 11, 2016:
International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
Sun and
Sand, But No Sovereignty [Bloomberg View, 12/3/15]: Can Native Hawaiians form a
government of their own to negotiate with the U.S. government like an Indian
tribe? The issue is still before the lower courts, but the U.S. Supreme Court
dropped a big hint Wednesday that its eventual answer may be no.
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