Posts for December 25, 2016
These are the posts
that are accumulated in our weekly newsletter which goes out throughout the
school year. The posts are organized by the major units in our Constitutional 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:
For those of you who discuss tort law at all: Killer's psychiatrist can be sued by victim's family,
Washington Supreme Court says [AP / Seattle Times, 12/24/16]:
Spokane case raises questions about the extent to which a doctor is responsible
for his patient's subsequent actions.
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:
Is California splitting away? Group believes California
should form its own nation [LA Daily News, 12/24/16]: California’s
been described as a nation unto itself. Could it be? “Yes California,” a
pro-secession group, filed paperwork with the state attorney general in
November for a proposed 2018 ballot measure to strike language in the state
constitution binding California to the United States.
The
American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Trump’s unpopularity threatens to hobble his presidency [Politico,
12/24/16]: The president-elect’s underwater favorability numbers could rob
Trump of precious political capital.
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:
Legislation and the Legislative
Process (TOPIC 20)
California’s new laws in 2017: Drivers can’t hold phones,
barber shops can serve wine [SJ Merc, 12/24/16]: On New Year’s Day,
Californians will wake up to hundreds of new laws, governing everything from
the size of our paychecks to the rights of beauty salons to serve booze as they
cultivate our coiffure.
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:
First Liberty Appeals Historic 'Bible Verse Case' Case
to Supreme Court [First Liberty Institute
press release, 12/24/16]: This could be the biggest military religious freedom
case in decades.
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:
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
US abstains in UN
vote denouncing Israeli settlements in Palestine [Jurist / CNN, 12/24/16]: The United
Nations Security Council passed a resolution, on Friday, which establishes that
Israeli settlements in Palestine have no legal validity. UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resolution, stating
that the settlements violated international law, and that they were an obstacle
to the two state policy and lasting peace in the region. A spokesman for the
Secretary General stated that "the resolution is a significant
step, demonstrating the Council’s much needed leadership and the international
community’s collective efforts to reconfirm that the vision of two States is
still achievable.” The Trump transition team, along with the Israeli government,
had urged the United States to veto the resolution. The resolution
passed 14-0 with U.S. ambassador Samantha Power the lone abstention. U.S.
Sen. Lindsey Graham will propose a measure to pull US funding for the United
Nations unless the UN Security Council repeals the resolution it passed
condemning Israeli settlements.
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