Posts for April 4, 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:

Supreme Court to Consider Corporate Liability in U.S. for Violating International Law [WSJ, 4/3/17]: Court to review appeal by a group of litigants from Israel and other nations, alleging Jordan-based Arab Bank provided financial services to terror groups.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-to-consider-corporate-liability-in-u-s-for-violating-international-law-1491229575

Gorsuch nomination and hearings

Senators work quietly on long-shot bid for compromise as Democrats secure votes to filibuster Gorsuch [LA Times, 4/3/17]: Democrats now officially have enough votes to filibuster President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Neil M. Gorsuch, setting up the possibility of a history-making showdown that several senators Monday were urgently trying to prevent.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-gorsuch-nomination-fight-20170403-story.html

Gorsuch filibuster would be good for Democrats [CNN, 4/3/17]:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/03/opinions/gorsuch-filibuster-would-be-good-for-democrats-zeilzer/

Judge Gorsuch is more dangerous than he appears [Boston Globe, 4/3/17]: Quite apart from social issues like abortion or gay rights, his approach could gut health and safety and antidiscrimination laws.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/columns/2017/04/03/judge-gorsuch-more-dangerous-than-appears/iv3A2GK6FVOjBqHBgi94IP/story.html

A Supreme Mistake in the Making: By breaking the Democrats' filibuster of Neil Gorsuch, Republicans would hurt the country and themselves [US News & WR, 4/3/17]:

https://www.usnews.com/opinion/thomas-jefferson-street/articles/2017-04-03/breaking-the-democrats-gorsuch-supreme-court-filibuster-would-be-a-mistake

Paul Kane on Senate Rules and Supreme Court Justice Confirmation Vote [C-SPAN, 4/3/17]: Paul Kane talked about procedural maneuvers to prevent Senate votes from occurring, including the use of filibuster and the likelihood of Republicans choosing the “nuclear option” in the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation vote.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?426441-5/washington-journal-paul-kane-discusses-supreme-court-confirmation-process

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:

Vouchers, Charters and Public School Debt: Not Just Different Education Policy Priorities [Justia, 4/4/17]: Brad Miller argues that the Trump administration’s plans to expand charter schools and provide vouchers for religious and other private schools may violate the Contract Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Miller points out that by paying for charters out of traditional public schools’ funds, states have de-prioritized their obligations to the purchasers of public school bonds in violation of the Contract Clause.

https://verdict.justia.com/2017/04/04/vouchers-charters-public-school-debt

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Trump Completes Repeal of Online Privacy Protections From Obama Era [Reuters, 4/3/17]: President Trump on Monday signed a congressional resolution to complete the overturning of internet privacy protections created by the Federal Communications Commission during the Obama administration. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet-trump-idUSKBN1752PR

White House acknowledges Trump can withdraw money from businesses [Politico, 4/3/17]: But press secretary Sean Spicer says he doesn’t know whether the president has withdrawn any money yet — or if he’d make such information public. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/donald-trump-withdraw-money-businesses-236837

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

Too young for juvie? California bill bars prosecution of kids under 12 [Sac Bee, 4/4/17]: In 2015, 874 cases involving children under 12 were referred to California juvenile court for crimes such as curfew violation, truancy, vandalism, theft, trespassing, assault and battery and robbery, according to a UCLA analysis of state justice department.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article142195994.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:

Mississippi Religious-Freedom Law Debated in Fifth Circuit [CNS, 4/3/17]: The Fifth Circuit heard arguments Monday afternoon about a Mississippi law that would let government employees, service providers and business owners cite their own religious beliefs to deny services to gay couples.

http://www.courthousenews.com/gay-marriage-recusal-law-debated-fifth-circuit/

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:

Teachers Fight for the Right to Get Sick [CNS, 4/4/17]: In a class action resounding in politics, a veteran teacher sued New Mexico, claiming it punishes teachers for taking more than three sick days per year, though they earn nine sick days a year under their contracts.

http://www.courthousenews.com/teachers-fight-state-right-get-sick/