Posts for February 16, 2017
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:
Anthony Kennedy worries that civic discourse has become too
'hostile' and 'divisive' [Sac Bee, 2/14/17]: Anthony
Kennedy would like you to be more polite. At a summit Tuesday on civic
education in California schools, the U.S. Supreme Court justice and Sacramento
native son lamented the harm that contemporary American rhetoric has done to our
democracy, as an example to both younger generations and other countries.
New AFJ Report Finds Gorsuch 'Not Qualified' for
Supreme Court [Alliance For Justice,
2/15/17]: To aid the Senate—and the public—in its task of evaluating this
nomination, this report assesses Judge Gorsuch’s judicial record, outlook, and
views about the law.
Moments In
History: Remembering Thurgood Marshall [You Tube & US Courts,
2/15/17]: Thurgood Marshall was one of
the country's greatest jurists and civil rights advocates, but he was also a
gifted storyteller who liked to leaven even a serious tale with a sprinkling of
humor.
Judge Gorsuch Shows
Sensitivity to First Amendment Issues [Newseum, 2/15/17]: President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee – Judge Neil Gorsuch
of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals – shows sensitivity to First Amendment
concerns in his opinions. From his review, free-speech expert Ronald K.L. Collins
writes that Gorsuch “has long and informed commitment to the First Amendment.”
Scaling Judge Gorsuch's Opinions: Hints of a Possible
Centrist [“Empirical SCOTUS” blog,
2/15/17]: Two words that are regularly thrown around when discussing
the Supreme Court (and politics generally) are “liberal” and “conservative.” On
this note, recently a question that has
gained much traction has to do with how liberal or conservative a Justice Judge
Gorsuch will be if confirmed to the Court. A large problem with
these terms is that they lack clearly defined contours.
Former law clerks herald
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch's independence [USA Today, 2/14/17]: One thing you can say about Supreme Court
nominee Neil Gorsuch: He inspires
loyalty among his former law clerks, no matter their politics.
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:
Appeals court won't
re-hear the 'dusky gopher frog' case [AP, 2/14/17]: Advocates
for an endangered species of frog have won a victory in a case that's headed
for the U.S. Supreme Court. A federal appeals court in New Orleans has
refused to revive an environmental case involving the "dusky gopher
frog."
The
American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Trump signs repeal of regulation on energy company
payments to foreign governments [Jurist,
2/15/17]: The Securities and Exchange
Commission rule, enacted under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law,
mandated that US energy companies disclose royalties or other payments made to
governments to combat corruption involved in resource-rich countries.
How Will America
Resist Trump’s Lust for Absolute Power? [Jurist, 2/17/17]: Professor Buchanan
considers where resistance may arise during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Specifically, Buchanan considers the three branches of government and
identifies where in each branch resistance to Trump is strongest, as well as
where it needs to be augmented.
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:
2018 Initial Senate Ratings [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 2/16/17]: Democrats start on defense but national environment will be key.
Legislation and the Legislative
Process (TOPIC 20)
House intel chairman dismisses call for expanded Russia
probe [Politico, 2/15/17]: House Republicans are dismissing reports
that Trump campaign staffers were in contact with Russia’s intelligence agency
during the election and downplaying calling for a select committee to
investigate the matter. House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, in a Wednesday
morning interview with Politico, reacted angrily to calls for a new probe
following a New York Times bombshell report about such communications.
Trump's Russia scandal threatens GOP agenda [Politico,
2/15/17]: Lawmakers need the president to enact their priorities but are
increasingly bogged down by his controversies.
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:
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:
2016 'an unprecedented year for hate'; 79 groups in
California now, 8 in Orange County [OC Register, 2/15/17]: Southern
California leads the nation’s most hateful state, California, when it comes to
hate groups. In the newest update of its annual Hate Map, which lists groups
and organizations that target people based on race, religion or sexual
orientation, the Southern Poverty Law Center said Wednesday that the nation saw
its second-straight year-to-year jump in the number of hate groups.
Boeing South Carolina
Workers Say Resounding No to Unionization
[CNS, 2/16/17]: Workers at Boeing’s South Carolina plant in North Charleston
overwhelmingly rejected an effort to unionize the plant on Wednesday, voting
2,097 to 731 to preserve the status quo at the facility that turns out the
aerospace giant’s 787 Dreamliner.
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