Posts for April 30, 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:

For Supreme Court, It's Decision Time [WSJ, 4/28/17]: Key cases this term include one about redistricting and another on church-and-state.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-supreme-court-its-decision-time-1493396549

Justice Ginsburg Denounces Unconscious Gender Bias [The Hoya [Georgetown Un.] / The Hill, 4/28/17]: The law should not prevent women from pursuing their aspirations, said Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a discussion in Gaston Hall yesterday. Society’s perception of women has evolved but certain underlying challenges remain toward achieving full gender equity, Ginsburg said.

http://www.thehoya.com/justice-ginsburg-denounces-unconscious-gender-bias/

http://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/330981-ginsburg-pines-for-more-collegial-court-confirmations

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]

How nervous should Trump be about his poll ratings? [Politico, 4/29/17]: The president's approval rating among Republicans is strong, but Bush and Obama were even stronger with their own parties at the 100-day mark.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/29/trump-poll-ratings-100-days-237768

Trump savages media as Washington roasts him from afar [Politico, 4/29/17]: 'The media deserves a very big, fat, failing grade,' the president tells a charged-up crowd in Pennsylvania.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/29/trump-rally-pennsylvania-whcd-237794

EPA scrubs website of references to Obama climate plans [Politico, 4/28/17]: EPA is overhauling its website to remove “outdated language” referring to Obama-era programs President Donald Trump has targeted for elimination, including virtually all mentions of climate change, the agency announced late Friday. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/28/epa-website-scrubbed-obama-climate-plans-237779

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:

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

Common High Court Ground [Slate, 4/28/17]: The Supreme Court is looking for cases to curb abusive law enforcement seizures.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/04/the_supreme_court_finally_found_an_issue_that_unites_them.html

Can the Death Penalty Ever Be Implemented Justly? [Slate, 4/28/17]: A dialogue on the constitutionality -- and justice -- of executions.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/04/what_the_travesty_in_arkansas_tells_us_about_the_possibility_for_a_just.html

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:

WHCA chief rips Trump’s attempts to 'delegitimize' media [Politico, 4/29/17]: “We are not fake news, we are not failing news organizations and we are not the enemy of the American people,” Mason said to a standing ovation. Watergate icons Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein also addressed the attendees, raising similar concerns as Mason.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/29/jeff-mason-trump-whcs-media-237795

Looking back on Bridges v. California (1941) — Some random thoughts inspired by Floyd Abrams’ new book [Concurring Opinions, 4/29/17]: One sign of a good book is its ability to engage readers, to pique curiosity, and to urge one to return anew to something largely known but mostly forgotten. By that measure, Floyd Abrams’ latest book (The Soul of the First Amendment) is a valuable book. First Amendment junkies will enjoy this post!

https://concurringopinions.com/archives/2017/04/looking-back-on-bridges-v-california-1941-a-few-random-thoughts-inspired-by-floyd-abrams-new-book.html

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: