Posts for April 19, 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.
Colleague Dave Keller
alerts us to this interesting site: “I love the
idea of this new tool. Not sure how well it works but I like it.” When he
retired at 57, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spent three years and $10
million to establish USAFacts, a database to allow citizens and the media to
see how local, state and federal government revenues are generated and
spent.
http://usafacts.org/
http://usafacts.org/
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:
U.S. Supreme Court May
Curb SEC Power to Recoup Illegal Gains [Bloomberg / Reuters, 4/18/17]: U.S. Supreme
Court justices signaled they will scale back the power of the Securities and
Exchange Commission to recoup money taken years earlier in violation of federal
law. The case before the court involves Charles R. Kokesh, a New Mexico man
found by a jury to have misappropriated money from four investment companies he
controlled. The case is Kokesh v. SEC.
Can we handle 'the truth about SCOTUS'? [Volokh Conspiracy, 4/16/17]:
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]
Was Trump’s Bombing
Syria Legal—And Does It Matter? [Justia, 4/19/17]: Dorf comments on the legality of President Trump’s
missile strike on a Syrian airbase under domestic and international law. Dorf
describes the different stakes under domestic and international law of
permitting military intervention for humanitarian purposes.
No White House visitor logs: Trump administration
transparency hits new low [FAC, 4/18/17]: With
its refusal to release White House visitor logs, the Trump administration’s
further reveals a skimpy commitment to transparency.
Trump’s billionaire adviser stands to gain from policies
he helped shape [Politico, 4/18/17]: Billionaire investor Steve
Schwarzman’s newfound status as a trusted outside adviser for President Donald
Trump has created blurred lines in which the Blackstone CEO is offering
guidance on policies that could boost the fortunes of his company and his
personal wealth.
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)
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
Arizona Gov. signs law increasing penalties for
assaulting police [Jurist, 4/18/17]: Arizona
Governor Doug Doucey on Monday
signed into law a "Blue Lives Matter” law imposing stricter penalties on
assaulting, even off duty, police officers. The bill creates new maximum and
minimums for offenses against police officers and supporters of the bill, such
as Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, have said it is a measure "to protect
those who protect us."
5 things you need to know about the LAPD’s new
de-escalation policy [KPCC, 4/18/17]: The five-member civilian Los Angeles
Police Commission Tuesday approved an amendment to the LAPD’s use of force
policy that requires officers to try to use de-escalation tactics to avoid
shooting suspects.
Supreme Court Spares Death-Row Inmate [CNS, 4/18/17]:
The U.S. Supreme Court late Monday blocked Arkansas from
executing convicted murderer Don Davis, one of at least six inmates the state
hoped to put to death before its supply of a key lethal injection drug expires
at the end of this month.
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:
Press Freedom Under
Attack in Texas Legislature [CNS, 4/19/17]:
A Texas Republican introduced bills in the state House that would make it
easier for public officials to sue journalists for libel, force reporters to
reveal their sources and instruct media outlets on how to report on public
officials.
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:
New Head of Office
for Civil Rights Signals Entirely Newly Direction [EdLawProfs Blog,
4/18/17]: The past four years of
the U.S. Department of Education' Office for Civil Rights may have been its
strongest in decades. Unfortunately, the new Acting Assistant Secretary for the
Department, Candice Jackson, signals that the coming years may look far
different.
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