Posts for March 10,
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.
Proposed
history-social science tests raise concerns about testing burden [EdSource,
3/9/16]: California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
Torlakson is recommending that California develop new annual standardized
history-social science tests, but several State Board of Education members
raised questions about the need for the test at their meeting in Sacramento
Wednesday, saying it could run counter to California’s efforts to lighten the
testing load on both students and their teachers.
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:
Calif. Supreme Court to
begin live streaming its oral arguments [“At the Lectern” blog / AP, 3/8/16]: In her just concluded State of the Judiciary speech,
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye mentioned that the Supreme Court will begin
live streaming its oral arguments. There were many other more important
things in the speech, but, for appellate practitioners, this is a big
deal.
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:
Federal Judge: No Marriage Equality In Puerto Rico [BuzzFeed / Bloomberg View, 3/8/16]: As an
'unincorporated territory,' the judge ruled, the Supreme Court's ruling on
marriage bans doesn't automatically apply to Puerto Rico.
The U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Adopt an Alabama
Ruling [The Atlantic, 3/8/16]: In a
unanimous decision, the justices struck down a state-level ruling on a same-sex
adoption case.
The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Obama narrowing list of
possible Supreme Court candidates [AP / NPR / Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette, 3/10/16]: Despite calls to select a Supreme Court nominee from
outside the judicial monastery, President Barack Obama doesn't appear to be
ready to leave the faith.
Justice Elizabeth Warren?
The Supreme Court pick that would be the drama of all dramas. [CNN, 3/9/16]: The process of picking a Supreme Court justice is notoriously secretive. Late-night
meetings, myths of White House "shortlists" and trial balloons of
potential nominees coming from who-knows-where.
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:
Why Donald Trump is
Winning and Why His Nomination Could Shatter the Party [Sabato’s Crystal
Ball, 3/10/16]: There has never been a
frontrunner for a
major party nomination like
Donald Trump. Since announcing his candidacy, Trump has seemingly broken every
rule of political campaigning — at times disparaging women, racial minorities,
people with disabilities, and leaders of his own party — yet he has led the
national polls for nine straight months, won 15 of the first 24 caucuses and
primaries holding a presidential preference vote, and accumulated far more
delegates than any other candidate.
Are the Republicans
Going the Way of the Whigs? [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 3/10/16]: Pundits like Lou Cannon and David Broder suggested that
the party hovered near its death-bed. And on several occasions that spring,
Maryland’s moderate Republican Sen. Charles Mathias warned that unless his
party mended its ways, it would “go the way of the Whigs.”
Sanders' Michigan win could serve as California template [CC
Times, 3/9/16]: Bernie Sanders' stunning upset in the Michigan primary
reverberated across the Golden State on Wednesday as his volunteer army marched
back into action and Democratic leaders braced for a bruising, costly
California nominating contest that could further weaken Hillary Clinton heading
into November.
Will Trump and Hillary Duke it Out? [Fox &
Hounds, 3/9/16]: “Vote the Crook—it’s important” read a bumper sticker in the
1991 Louisiana Governor’s race that pitted David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of
the Ku Klux Klan, against Edwin Edwards, a former Louisiana governor who had
been charged with bribery and was later convicted of 17 counts relating to
extortion and racketeering.
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)
Senate Dems push for more
judges amid SCOTUS fight [Politico, 3/9/16]: Senate
Democrats on Wednesday ratcheted up their fight with Republicans over judicial
nominations, pushing for swift confirmations of two lower court judges even as
the outlook for a future Supreme Court nominee remained bleak.
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:
High school sophomore
spearheads campaign for student press freedom legislation in Rhode Island [SPLC,
3/7/16]: With the help of high school sophomore
Yanine Castedo, Rhode Island state representatives have introduced the Student
Journalists’ Freedom of Expression Act, which would protect student
journalists’ right to free speech and of the press, regardless of whether the
publication is paid for by the school or produced as part of a class.
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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