Posts for May 1, 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:
Conservatives prepare for
Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement [CNN / Wash Times, 5/1/17]: Justice Gorsuch has been on the bench for less than
a month and conservatives are already preparing for the next Supreme Court
confirmation fight. The only hitch: there's no vacancy.
Judicial Confirmations
Reached Historic Lows Under Obama [Congressional Research Service, 4/24/17]: The U.S. Senate confirmed a smaller percentage of
President Barack Obama's district and circuit court nominees during his eight
years than any other two-term president going back to Harry S. Truman,
according to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service.
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]
A
Fake and a Fraud [NY Times
Op-Ed, 4/30/17]: Donald Trump’s mounting reversals, failures and
betrayals make it increasingly clear that he is a fake and a fraud. For many of
us, this is affirmative reinforcement; for others, it is devastating revelation.
But it is those who believed — and cast supportive ballots — who should feel
most cheated and also most contrite.
President Trump’s
Unseemly Attacks on the Federal Judiciary [Justia, 4/28/17]: comments on President Trump’s alarming attacks on the
integrity of the federal judiciary. Dean describes how past presidents have
criticized specific rulings without calling into question the legitimacy of the
constitutional system.
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:
With Obama, Clinton gone, GOP revives Pelosi as boogeyman [AP,
5/1/17]: Move over Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton, Republicans have a new campaign boogeyman. Well, sort of new.
It's more of an encore for Nancy Pelosi, the 77-year-old House Democratic
leader who spent four years as the nation's first female speaker, lost her
majority in 2010 and now wants the gavel again.
Legislation and the Legislative
Process (TOPIC 20)
GOP faces make-or-break moment on Obamacare repeal [Politico,
4/30/17]: House Republican leaders and White House officials are increasingly
confident about passing their long-stalled Obamacare replacement bill: More
lawmakers than ever are committed to voting “yes," they say, and GOP
insiders insist they’re within striking distance of a majority.
AP Fact Check: Are Trump's health-plan protections real? [AP,
5/1/17]: President Donald Trump is promising that the latest Republican health
care legislation will cover people with pre-existing conditions
"beautifully." Such reassurance is not to be found in the bill that's
been under review.
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:
Left, right Berkeley protesters display civility along
with signs [SF Chron, 4/30/17]: If the two sides in Berkeley’s free
speech war ever put down their shields and talk to each other instead of
yelling at each other, they might find they have more in common than they
thought.
What We Really Mean
by the Culture War [Justia, 5/1/17]:
Professor Margulies points out that
teaching about religion is substantially different from
promoting one religion at the expense of another, or of promoting religiosity
at the expense of agnosticism or atheism. Margulies argues that a San Diego
school district’s choice to teach about Islam promotes a safe climate of
respect and toleration, notwithstanding claims that it has “surrendered” to
Sharia law.
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:
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
Immigration
foes biologically motivated by racial, ethnic aversion, study says [San Diego Union Trib,
4/30/17]: Those especially fearful of infections and prone to disgust are most
likely to oppose immigration by those of a different race or color, according
to a study by three political scientists.
Trump orders review
of trade agreements, WTO membership [Jurist, 4/30/17]: President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive
order directing the Commerce Department and the US
Trade Representative to review all US trade agreements and membership in the World
Trade Organization (WTO) [official website] to determine the cause of the US
trade deficit.
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