Posts for July 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 (5^th ed.) student textbook.

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:

Celebrating Justice Thomas’s 25 Years on the Supreme Court [Nat. Rev., 7/1/16]: July 1 marks 25 years since President George H. W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to serve on the Supreme Court. In recognition of this milestone, NR asked friends and colleagues to weigh in on the justice and his legacy.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/437358/clarence-thomas-supreme-court-celebrating-25-years

Sonia Sotomayor channels liberal voice on Supreme Court [CNN, 6/29/16]: On the losing end of a 5-3 decision regarding police searches without a warrant, Sonia Sotomayor last week unleashed a withering dissent. With direct references to Ferguson, Missouri, and a reading list of black authors including Ta-Nehisi Coates and W.E.B Du Bois, Sotomayor took the majority to task for ignoring the realities on the ground.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/29/politics/sonia-sotomayor-supreme-court-liberal-voice/

The conservative era of the Supreme Court is over [Erwin Chemerinsky in the LA Times, 7/3/16]: After 45 years with a conservative majority, the Supreme Court appears to be entering a very different era. 

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-chemerinsky-end-of-conservative-supreme-court-20160628-snap-story.html

The Supreme Court Really Matters in This Election [Bloomberg, 7/3/16]: For a half century, presidential candidates have routinely claimed that there are no bigger stakes in the election than the next appointments to the Supreme Court. This year, for the first time since 1968, the dire warnings could actually have an important effect on voting behavior.

http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-07-03/the-supreme-court-really-matters-in-this-election

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:

Liberals ready assault on abortion laws after Supreme Court verdict [The Hill, 7/3/16]: Abortion rights groups are gearing up for a major assault against dozens -- and ultimately hundreds -- of state laws after their biggest legal victory in a generation this week.

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/286348-liberals-ready-assault-on-abortion-laws-after-supreme-court-verdict

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:

Trump statements, slow start put pivotal Southwest at risk [AP, 7/3/16]: Once a swing state in presidential elections, Colorado has teetered on the brink of becoming solidly Democratic. Donald Trump may have pushed it over the edge. 

http://www.dailynews.com/article/20160703/NEWS/160709869

Donald Trump’s ‘Star of David’ Tweet Previously Appeared on Racist Website [TIME, 7/3/16]: An image Donald Trump tweeted Saturday that criticized Hillary Clinton and sparked backlash after it featured a message critics said was in the shape of a Star of David had previously appeared on a message board where racist and anti-Semitic messages are often posted.

http://time.com/4392387/donald-trump-star-of-david-tweet-8chan-pol/

Money rains from perfect storm of politics [CalMatters, 6/15/16]: Some of the outsized money spent on California legislative races this year came pouring through the mail slot of voter Michael Johnson’s home, arriving in the form of two or three glossy ads a day in advance of the June primary. 

https://calmatters.org/articles/perfect-policy-storm-rains-money-on-legislative-races/

Obama campaign machine revving up to elect Clinton [AP, 7/3/16]: The vaunted data-driven machine that twice got President Barack Obama elected is revving up to help elect Hillary Clinton, as Democrats look to recreate the tactical advantage they used against Republicans in 2008 and 2012.

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/elections/ci_30087882/obama-campaign-machine-revving-up-elect-clinton

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Pelosi says House Republicans no different from Trump [SF Chron, 7/3/16]: “Poor Tim,” as Nancy Pelosi dubbed Apple CEO Tim Cook last week, became the perfect foil for the House minority leader’s plan to wrap Donald Trump around the neck of every House Republican.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Pelosi-says-House-Republicans-no-different-from-8339503.php?t=0d3757145a7d4f3860&cmpid=twitter-premium

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:

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: