Posts for May 2, 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.

New from CRF - Bill of Rights in Action ]CRF, 5/2/16]: This edition of Bill of Rights in Action looks at well-known conflicts in politics. The first article examines the sometimes raucous election of 1912. The second article looks at the effects of a 19th century rivalry between two powerful British politicians. The third article explores the controversy that erupted from Edward Snowden’s revelations about government surveillance

http://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_31_3wbb.pdf

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:

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:

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:

Sanders: 'It will be a contested convention' [Politico, 5/1/16]: Bernie Sanders predicted Sunday that Hillary Clinton would not win enough pledged delegates to claim the nomination ahead of the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, and he delivered his most forceful call yet for superdelegates in states he's won to consider throwing their support to him.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

Trump’s message to California Republicans good news for Democrats [SF Chron, 5/1/16]:  Donald Trump was autopiloting his way through one of his “We’re going to win, and we’re going to win in a way nobody has seen before” riffs at the California Republican convention in Burlingame when he said something that should thrill Democrats — and crush the hopes of the state’s Republicans.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Trump-s-message-to-California-Republicans-good-7386934.php?t=1e593c6b5600af33be&cmpid=twitter-premium

Thousands of California Democrats vie to be presidential delegates [CPR, 5/1/16]: Delegate caucuses often go unnoticed, and in a city such as Sacramento, many of the candidates are political junkies, or work in or around the Capitol. But the rise of Sanders and Donald Trump in contentious presidential primary races has attracted new faces and more scrutiny to the delegate system in both parties.

http://www.capradio.org/72099

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

'It's On!' — Gun-Control Initiative Headed to California Voters [CNS, 4/29/16]: California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that he has turned in more than 600,000 signatures for a sweeping gun-control initiative, easily clearing the required 365,880 to qualify for the November ballot.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/04/29/its-on-gun-control-initiative-headed-to-california-voters.htm

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

Supreme Court Defeat for Extortionist Cop [CNS, 5/2/16]:  Three justices complained Monday that the Supreme Court reinforced bad precedent equating extortion and bribery by upholding of a former Baltimore police officer's convictions.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/05/02/supreme-court-defeat-for-extortionist-cop.htm

The decision in Ocasio v. United States can be found at:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/15pdf/14-361_db8e.pdf

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:

Maryland New Voices press freedom bill signed into law [SPLC, 4/26/16]: Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law Tuesday a bill designed to protect the free-speech rights of high school and college journalists, effective Oct. 1.

http://www.splc.org/article/2016/04/maryland-new-voices-signed

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:

International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]

War Crimes in a Punitive Age [Jurist, 5/2/16]: Professor Margulies discusses the challenges of comprehensive criminal justice reform. Even for victims of wrongful detention and torture, he argues that war crimes prosecutions are not the answer. With an eye toward a crime-free society, Margulies presents a compelling argument as to why the current, punitive nature of our carceral state should be dismantled.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/05/02/war-crimes-in-a-punitive-age