Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Posts for August 16, 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.

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:

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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

The List of 371 Obama Accomplishments So Far, with Citations [PCTC blog, 5/27/16]: Here is a list of many of President Obama’s accomplishments as President. Every one of them has a citation…. Interesting!

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:

How to register to vote in every US state and territory [CNN, 8/15/16]: Voting: Some call it a civic duty, others a waste of time, but if you want to have your say at the ballot box there are a few things you need to know. Rules vary widely from state-to-state, and some requirements, like voter ID laws, are still being hashed out in the courts. If you are interested in voting, scroll down to your state or territory and find out how to register.
https://apple.news/ArP57Z7tRQT6PUXGcwD5g4w

Go Ahead and Lie, Donald. You're Protected. [Bloomberg, 8/15/16]: If only those First Amendment people could do something about Donald Trump. His latest attack on their sacred cow is the assertion that “It is not ‘freedom of the press’ when newspapers and others are allowed to say and write whatever they want even if it is completely false!” That’s wrong.

Fact Check: Trump gets his Mideast history wrong [AP, 8/15/16]: Donald Trump on Monday painted the Middle East as an oasis of stability before Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state, arguing that she and President Barack Obama "launched" the Islamic State group onto the world. In trying to outline how he would defeat the threat, Trump himself launched several other false claims.

Trump's new normal [Politico, 8/15/16]: The floundering Republican nominee packs his foreign policy speech with go-to half-truths and divisive policy ideas. 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Key education bills still alive – and some that aren't [EdSource, 8/15/16]: The Legislature has less than three weeks to act on important remaining education bills. Many of the major education bills that were introduced at the start of the year, such as teacher evaluation reforms, either have died or, like more money for college preparatory courses, been incorporated into next year’s state budget.

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:

'Sister Wives' case moves slowly toward Supreme Court [Constitution Daily, 8/15/16]: National Constitution Center Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston looks at the legal hurdles faced by reality TV star Kody Brown as he contests Utah’s anti-polygamy statute.

Religious Liberty Is a Little Different in the Military [Bloomberg, 8/15/16]: How much leeway should Marines have to express their religious beliefs? According to Congress, religious liberty laws apply with full force to the military. But last week the highest court in the armed forces put some limits on claims by active-duty personnel. 

Artist Sues California for Barring Confederate Flag [CNS, 8/16/16]: California's ban on state agencies selling or displaying items showing the Confederate flag is unconstitutional, says an artist who was not allowed to show his Civil War painting at the Fresno County Fair.

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:

Switching It Up: Massachusetts Enacts Bold New Equal Pay Law [Justia, 8/16/16]: Professor Grossman discusses a recently enacted Massachusetts law addressing the gender wage gap. Grossman describes the history of pay inequality in the United States and the slow progress in narrowing that gap.

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