Posts for February 20, 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 (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:

Gorsuch’s ‘originalism’ is flawed interpretation method [EB Times, 2/19/17]: Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch believes the Constitution should be interpreted as it was understood at the time it was adopted, even when modern circumstances change. 

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/18/commentary-gorsuchs-originalism-is-flawed-interpretation-method/

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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Did Trump’s “Muslim Ban” Talk Permanently Taint His Immigration Policy? [Justia, 2/20/17]: Professor Dorf considers whether President Trump’s new executive order on immigration, anticipated to be issued this week, will fare better than Executive Order 13769, which temporarily banned nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries and all refugees from entering the United States. Dorf discusses Trump’s past public statements advocating for a Muslim ban during his presidential campaign and applies the factors courts may use in evaluating whether those statements can be considered evidence of Trump’s motives for his actions as president, should the constitutionality of his executive order be challenged in court again.

https://verdict.justia.com/2017/02/20/trumps-muslim-ban-talk-permanently-taint-immigration-policy

Protecting Top Secret Information, by the Secretary of State and by the Rest of the Government [Justia, 2/20/17]: Professor Rotunda comments on the proper handling of classified information and expresses concern over Hillary Clinton’s apparent departure from protocol.

https://verdict.justia.com/2017/02/20/protecting-top-secret-information-secretary-state-rest-government

Reality collides with Trump's promises [Politico, 2/19/17]: Despite dizzying sound and fury, the president failed to halt immigration from Muslim countries, to label China a currency manipulator, to deliver a serious plan for funding his border wall or to repeal Obamacare—all among his many promises during last year’s campaign. He even weakened ethics rules affecting lobbyists, in the guise of a promised ban.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-reality-promises-235198

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:

Democrats seek to quell Trump impeachment talk [Politico, 2/19/17]: They call it the ‘I’ word. Just a month into Donald Trump’s presidency, Democratic Party leaders are trying to rein in the talk of impeachment that’s animating the grass roots, the product of a restive base demanding deeper and more aggressive investigations into Trump’s ties to Russia. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-impeachment-democrats-235184

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

Supreme Court enters Mexico border debate with Texas shooting case [USA Today, 2/19/17]: As if U.S.-Mexico relations could get no worse, the Supreme Court enters the fray Tuesday with a case that may set them back further.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/19/cross-border-shooting-supreme-court-mexico-border-patrol/98090414/

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:

California School Under Fire After Teachers Mock Students Participating In Immigrants Strike [Huff Post, 2/17/17]: Several teachers at a California high school are in hot water after posting a series of derogatory Facebook comments about students participating in Thursday’s nationwide “A Day Without Immigrants” strike. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-teachers-under-fire-for-facebook-posts-mocking-students-participating-in-a-day-without-immigrants_us_58a711c1e4b07602ad53e8b2

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: