Posts for January
4, 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.
Major education issues to watch in 2016 – and predictions
of what to expect [EdSource, 1/3/16]: Here are nine big issues to
follow in 2016, with my predictions about whether anything will change during
the year. The scale ranges from 1 to 5 “Fensterwald Faces”, with 1 meaning no
chance, and 5 meaning highly likely.
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:
In U.S., Justice Kennedy Was 'Person of Year [Jost on Justice, 1/3/16]: Justice Kennedy played key
roles in major decisions.
Senate a major roadblock
for next president's Supreme Court picks [SF Chron, 1/3/16]: As the presidential election approaches, few issues
are more important than the authority to appoint justices to the U.S. Supreme
Court, which has become the nation’s arbiter of such recent issues as campaign
finance, voting rights, same-sex marriage and health coverage — all on 5-4
votes.
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:
The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Obama's gun control
options each have legal pitfalls [Reuters, 1/3/16]: President Barack Obama is
expected to announce new gun control curbs this week, but he will have to
decide whether to take bold action that would likely spark a major legal
challenge from opponents or a more cautious route that may be less effective,
legal experts said.
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:
Meet the ‘Fire-Eaters,’ the Real Antecedents of Donald
Trump [Politico, 1/3/16]: In his seeming implication that all Muslim
visitors to the U.S. are potential terrorists, and by suggesting that Mexican
immigrants constitute a criminal class, Trump is giving license to what he seems
to regard as the prejudices of his core following of middle-aged white men with
no more than a high-school education—prejudices that perhaps he shares
himself.
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)
California lawmakers return with full plate of heady
issues [AP, 1/3/16]: California
lawmakers return to the Capitol Monday facing two of the most vexing problems
from last year: a looming $1 billion hole in funding for the state's health
care program for the poor and a $59 billion backlog in road repairs needed over
the next decade.
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:
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:
States plan renewed debate
on LGBT rights, religious freedom {AP, 1/3/16]: Lawmakers
in numerous states are preparing for a new round of battles over gay rights and
religious freedoms in 2016 following last summer's Supreme Court ruling
legalizing gay marriage.
Get ready for Friedrichs [Legal Information Institute, 1/4/16]: Here is the
preview of the case to be argued on January 11th. Thanks to the
wealth of information from the LII’s Supreme Court Bulletin.
International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
UK official: Iraq
veterans may face prosecution for war crimes [Jurist, 1/4/16]:
The head of the UK's Iraq
Historic Allegations Team. charged with looking into alleged abuses committed
during the war in Iraq, said Saturday that UK soldiers may face prosecution for
war crimes.
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