Posts for January 14,
2016
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.
CRF Updates
Curriculum on “America Responds to Terrorism” [CRF, 1/14/16]: The latest
from the Constitutional Rights Foundation.
Also see their lesson: “Civil
Conversation: The Syrian Refugee Crisis and U.S. Policy.”
Search for special ed teachers goes national [Cabinet
Report, 1/13/16]: Recruitment efforts for special education positions – often
the hardest jobs for schools to fill – have been forced to focus on
out-of-state candidates as the shortage of teachers across California continues
to loom.
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:
Next up at the Supreme Court: Obama’s Immigration
Policy [New Republic, 1/13/16]: The
court's past rulings on Obamacare could prove decisive in a case that is up for
consideration this week.
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:
Puerto Rico Beseeches
U.S. High Court for Prosecutorial Autonomy [CNS, 1/14/16]: Puerto Rico's autonomy hangs in the balance after a
Supreme Court hearing Wednesday on whether double jeopardy blocks it from
prosecuting a man who pleaded guilty to U.S. gun-trafficking charges.
The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Obama Revitalizes
Hopeful Tone in Omaha, Nebraska [CNS, 1/14/16]: n his first public appearance since delivering his
last State of the Union address, President Barack Obama resumed the hopeful
tone of his Tuesday night speech and was welcomed by overflow crowds during his
first visit to the Cornhusker state since his 2008 campaign.
The Every Student
Succeeds Act's Random Additions: Charter Schools, Data Collection, Testing
Limits, and Discipline [EdLawProfs blog, 1/14/16]: The Act included some important changes are “one-offs: that look like
bones thrown to various different and competing constituencies, In other words,
they are pet projects that helped the bill get passed. These changes
include for charter schools, data, test validity, test opt outs, and school
discipline.
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:
18 Days to Iowa:
Presidential Demolition Derby Revs Up [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 1/14/16]: In
the early states, there’s uncertainty on both sides.
Surprises Almost
Certain in Iowa and New Hampshire [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 1/14/16]: The voters of Iowa and New Hampshire jealously guard
their first-in-the-nation franchise in the presidential nomination process, and
they view themselves as the public’s screening committees for White House
wannabes.
Hillary Clinton's Iowa deja vu [Politico,
1/13/16]: Just when it seemed Clinton had shed the demons of 2008, Bernie
Sanders is causing flashbacks.
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)
Care for disabled Californians ensnared in Capitol
politics [CalNatters, 1/13/16]: A strange thing is happening in
Sacramento: voices on the political left and right are calling for the state to
spend more money on services for Californians with developmental
disabilities.
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
Police Body Cameras
and the Use of Force [CRF “Bill of Rights in Actino” newsletter, 1/12/16]:
Check out the latest BORIA newsletter for this topic.
Supreme Court finds
Florida's capital punishment process unconstitutional [Wash Post /
USA Today / CSM, 1/13/16]: The Court found Florida’s unique system of imposing
a death sentence unconstitutional on Tuesday, saying it gives power to judges
that is rightfully reserved for juries.
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:
First Five: Sean Penn and journalistic ethics, live
fact-checking, Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association, and unearned military
medals [Newseum, 1/14/16]: News updates
on hot issues from the Newseum.
Eight Washington
State senators sign on to sponsor student press freedom legislation [SPLC, 1/14/16]: The Washington State Senate Majority
Floor Leader sponsored the bill, which would protect student journalists at
public schools and colleges.
Student-Athlete
Receives Five-Game Ban for Criticizing State Association on Twitter [Schooled in Sports, 1/13/16]: A high school
student-athlete in Wisconsin received a five-game suspension after sending a
tweet with a derogatory comment aimed at her state athletic association.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/schooled_in_sports/2016/01/student-athlete_receives_five-game_ban_after_criticizing_wiaa_on_twitter.html
New Jersey district
ends practice of elementary students saying “God bless America” following
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance [NSBA Legal Clips, 1/14/16]: Heights
School District (HHSD) officials made their decision after the ACLU of New
Jersey sent HHSD’s attorney a letter saying that “having elementary school
students invoke God’s blessing at the beginning of every school day, during an
official school assembly, is unconstitutional.”
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:
U.S. Senator’s letter
to ED questions its legal basis for the department’s guidance on bullying and
harassment [NSBA
Legal Clips, 1/11/16]: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) has sent a letter
to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) questioning whether ED has
exceeded its legal authority in its efforts to push colleges to do more on
sexual assault. ED is aggressively pushing colleges and universities
to address campus sexual harassment and violence by promptly investigating
complaints of misconduct and sanctioning anyone found to have done wrong.
Districts nationwide
struggle with adjusting policies to accommodate students with prescriptions for
medical marijuana [NSBA Legal Clips, 1/11/16]: With an increasing number of states legalizing
the medical use of marijuana, school districts are grappling with how to
administer cannabis to students with prescriptions for it.
International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
Prominent female rights activist detained in Saudi Arabia
[Jurist, 1/14/16]: Samar Badawi was detained and interviewed by Saudi
prosecutors, allegedly for her involvement in managing a Twitter account that
campaigned for the release of her former husband, a Saudi lawyer who is serving
a 15-year prison sentence for activism.
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