Sunday, February 28, 2016

Posts for February 28, 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.

If you arent’ a member of the National Council for the Social Studies, well, you should be. If for no other reason than to receive their excellent teaching tool, “Social Education.” This month’s issue has at least a few excellent pieces. Notably, “Teaching Miranda v. Arizona at its 50th Anniversary” and “The Keys to the White House: Forecast for 2016.” Also interesting are “Teaching in the Time of Trump” and “Formative Assessments.” All will greatly enhance student understanding of these complex subjects. Check it out!!


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:

The Scalia Myth [Laurence Tribe in the NY Rev. of Books, 2/27/16]: Scalia managed to bring our Constitution to life more deeply than have many proponents of a “living” Constitution.

Which Justice Kennedy will rule on abortion? [MSNBC, 2/27/16]: With the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, opponents of abortion lost a real champion on the Supreme Court. But when it comes to Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the hugely consequential abortion case to be heard on March 2, Scalia’s absence hasn’t changed an essential calculation. All arguments will still be firmly aimed in the direction of Justice Anthony Kennedy. And for the man behind the court’s last two highly conflicted Supreme Court opinions on abortion, that is always a tricky proposition.

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:

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:

Clinton wallops Sanders in South Carolina [Politico, 2/27/16]: Hillary Clinton vanquished Bernie Sanders — and her own ghosts — in the South Carolina Democratic primary Saturday night, notching her second straight early-state victory for a burst of momentum heading into Super Tuesday. 

Wall of GOP resistance to Trump begins to crack [Politico / The Hill, 2/27/16]:  When Chris Christie threw his support behind Donald Trump, Washington gasped. But the wall of establishment opposition to Trump’s candidacy had begun cracking days before New Jersey’s governor barreled right through it. 

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:

 Trump on Libel Law & Freedom of the Press [“First Amendment News” in “Concurring Opinions,” 2/27/16]: Yesterday, Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Fort Worth, Texas. According to Politico, in the course of that rally he took aim at the New York Times and the Washington Post — those “dishonest” publications.  He then elaborated on what he planned to do to change the law of libel:.

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:

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