Posts for July 15, 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.

After hours of testimony, state board adopts history guidelines [EdSource, 7/14/16]:  After listening to five hours of charged disagreements by Hindus, Muslims and others on how their religions and culture should be depicted in California classrooms, the State Board of Education adopted new social science guidelines Thursday that will stress teaching critical thinking and objective inquiry so that students can determine historical truths for themselves.

https://edsource.org/2016/after-hours-of-testimony-state-board-adopts-history-guidelines-history-and-social-studies-framework/567055

Here is the Framework:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/cf/hssfw2ndreview.asp

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:

ACLU and Planned Parenthood challenge Arizona law affecting abortion

 [Jurist, 7/15/16]: The Arizona affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging an Arizona law they claim will "prevent low-income women from obtaining healthcare from their provider of choice." 

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/07/aclu-and-planned-parenthood-challenge-arizona-law-affecting-abortion.php

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Three Important Constitutional Lessons to Take From FBI Director Comey’s Statements About Hillary Clinton’s Email Management [Justia, 7/15/16]: Professor Amar describes three lessons we should take from FBI Director Comey’s statements about Hillary Clinton’s email management. First, Amar points out that the president is the ultimate decisionmaker when it comes to all criminal prosecutions. Second, he argues that there are other ways that Republican leaders could seek to punish Ms. Clinton for what they believe to be wrongdoing—such as the impeachment process. Finally, Amar suggests that to prevent Republicans (or others) from doggedly trying to prosecute Ms. Clinton for years to come, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, President Obama could pardon her just before he leaves office, as other presidents have done in numerous instances.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/07/15/three-important-constitutional-lessons-take-fbi-director-comeys-statements-hillary-clintons-email-management

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:

With Pence, Trump plays to win [Politico, 7/15/16]: In picking Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, Donald Trump showed he’s capable of listening to more than his own gut, that he can forgive past sins and, most of all, that he actually wants to win. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-vp-pick-mike-pence-advantages-225616

Trump team scores big win as RNC writes its convention rules [Politico, 7/14/16]:  Efforts to block Donald Trump’s nomination — hyped for months by proponents as a growing grassroots movement among Republican activists attending next week’s convention — turned out to be a flop.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/donald-trump-convention-rules-win-225586

Democrats ‘freaked out’ about polls in meeting with Clinton [The Hill, 7/14/16]: Nervous Senate Democrats raised concerns with Hillary Clinton during a private meeting in the Capitol Thursday over a recent poll showing Donald Trump leading or tied in several battleground states.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/287845-democrats-freaked-out-about-polls-in-meeting-with-clinton

Election Cases Move Toward U.S. Supreme Court, Risking Deadlocks [Bloomberg View, 7/15/16]: At the shorthanded U.S. Supreme Court, the next deadlock may affect the November election. A group of voting-rights cases is making its way to a court that’s all but guaranteed to have a lingering vacancy through the election. The divisive nature of the issues may leave the eight justices unable to decide who can cast the ballots that will determine control of the White House and Congress.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-15/election-cases-move-toward-u-s-supreme-court-risking-deadlocks

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

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:

Bill protecting students’ press rights re-introduced to NJ Assembly [SPLC, 7/13/16]: State legislators have re-introduced a bill that would prohibit school districts and public universities from authorizing prior restraint of school-sponsored media.

http://www.splc.org/article/2016/07/bill-protecting-students-press-rights-re-introduced-to-nj-assembly

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: