Posts for January 29, 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 (5^th ed.) student textbook.

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:

Gov. Doug Ducey wants Arizona out of the 9th Circuit [Ariz. Republic / AP, 1/28/16]: Ducey mainly is focusing on the logistical problems related to the court's massive caseload.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2016/01/28/gov-doug-ducey-wants-arizona-out-9th-circuit/79417258/

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ARIZONA_GOVERNOR_9TH_CIRCUIT

Read his press release:

http://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2016/01/governor-doug-ducey-arizona-congressional-leaders-call-removal-arizona-ninth

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:

Constitution Check: Does the 'Clean Power Plan' violate the 10^th Amendment? [Constitution Daily, 1/28/16]: Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at a debate over states’ rights and Obama administration’s ambitious efforts to protect the environment from carbon pollution.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/01/constitution-check-does-the-clean-power-plan-violate-the-tenth-amendment/

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

White House: Obama doesn't want to serve on Supreme Court [AP, 1/28/16]: Don't expect Barack Obama to wind up on the Supreme Court -- he doesn't want the job. The White House says Obama's post-presidency plans don't include becoming a Supreme Court justice.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEM_2016_CLINTON_OBAMA_SUPREME_COURT

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:

Constitution Check: Is there a basic flaw in campaign finance law? [Constitution Daily, 1/26/16]: Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at the ongoing debate over political speech and political transparency in campaign financing.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/01/constitution-check-is-there-a-basic-flaw-in-campaign-finance-law/

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

Mississippi AG to seek approval of alternate execution methods [Jurist, 1/28/16]: Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood stated Wednesday that he plans to ask lawmakers to approve the firing squad, electrocution or nitrogen gas as alternate methods of execution if the state prohibits lethal injections. States access to execution drugs has been hindered as a result of companies refusing the use of their products for execution purposes.

http://jurist.org/paperchase/2016/01/mississippi-ag-to-seek-approval-of-alternate-execution-methods.php

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:

Trump, Fox, Kelly and the history, hype and hope of debates [Newseum, 1/28/16]: The observation that should catch the attention of First Amendment advocates is Trump’s view of the purpose behind this last Republican debate before the Iowa primary, apparently shared by many, that the point of the exercise is television ratings and network profits.

http://www.newseuminstitute.org/2016/01/28/trump-fox-kelly-and-the-history-hype-and-hope-of-debates/

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: