Posts for August 7, 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:

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:

The Voting Rights Act at 51 [Wash Post / RNC, 8/1/16]: Debate Topic: Which law is the most important law that’s ever come out of Congress: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/defend-democracy-by-restoring-the-voting-rights-act/2016/08/01/9be58996-5756-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html

https://gop.com/rnc-commemorates-the-51st-anniversary-of-the-voting-rights-act/

Q&A: What Would Happen if a Presidential Nominee Quit? [WSJ Law Blog, 8/4/16]: Following a series of recent missteps and discouraging poll numbers, some election watchers pondered a far-fetched and extremely unlikely scenario: What would happen if Republican nominee Donald Trump drops out of the race?

And of course, earlier in the contest, some critics of Hillary Clinton suggested her email troubles could force her to quit, though ultimately the Justice Department decided to not bring charges in the matter.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2016/08/04/qa-what-would-happen-if-a-presidential-nominee-quit/

Donald Trump Might Be In Real Trouble This Time [NPR, 8/4/16]: Time and time again, the freewheeling businessman has flouted convention, always seemingly coming away unscathed. But his gusher of miscues and offenses this week feels different — and it's coming at precisely the wrong time.

http://www.npr.org/2016/08/04/488625889/what-changed-trump-s-terrific-primary-run-hits-the-post-convention-skids

As Clinton pulls away from Trump in polls, why Ohio remains close [SF Chron, 8/6/16]: Brook Park is a working-class suburb just west of Cleveland where the houses have petunias and American flags planted in the front yards and loyal union members living inside — people who have voted Democratic, almost reflexively, for generations. Which may be why Dan Rivera answered “the Democrat” — but not “Clinton” — when asked who he is voting for in November. 

http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/As-Clinton-pulls-away-from-Trump-in-polls-why-9127048.php?

Charting a road to 270, Clinton sets out most efficient path [AP, 8/7/16]: Hillary Clinton doesn't appear all that interested in making scenic stops on her state-to-state quest to become president. The Democratic nominee is instead programming her GPS to take her on the quickest route to collect the 270 Electoral College votes she needs to win the White House.

http://elections.ap.org/content/charting-road-270-clinton-sets-out-most-efficient-path

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:

Olympic committees muffle free speech using trademark law [FAC, 8/4/16]: A Minnesota carpet cleaner is suing the United States Olympic Committee over its ban on tweeting about the Olympic games. The committee stipulated that non-sponsors are not allowed to mention the games on social media.

https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/2016/08/olympic-committees-muffles-free-speech-using-trademark-law/

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: