Posts for May 17, 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:
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]
Everything we know so far about the Russia investigation
and the Trump White House [LA Times, 5/17/17]: The disclosure Tuesday
of a James B. Comey memo saying that President Trump had asked him to shut down
the FBI’s investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn
followed months of intrigue.
Kimberly Guilfoyle says she’s talking with Trump
administration about press secretary job [SJ Merc, 5/16/17]: Kimberly
Guilfoyle, the former first lady of San Francisco and current Fox News host, is
in conversations with the Trump administration about becoming White House press
secretary, she said in an exclusive interview with the Bay Area News Group on
Monday night.
Garland has no interest in
leaving judiciary for FBI, source says [CNN / The Atlantic, 5/16/17]: Judge Merrick Garland is not interested in leaving
the judiciary amid speculation he could be a candidate to replace James Comey
as FBI director, a source close to Garland told CNN Tuesday.
The Dangers
of Presidential Indiscretions [The Atlantic, 5/16/17]: President
Trump had the legal right to declassify information—but by sharing sensitive
intelligence with the Russians, he may have jeopardized national security.
Bad Faith? What's That? [Slate, 5/16/17]: The Justice Department's attempts to
wish away Donald Trump's Muslim ban statements are not working.
White House on edge: 'We are kind of helpless' [Politico,
5/17/17]: In interviews, multiple White House officials indicated they feel
under siege – unsure who in the intelligence community was leaking, how much
damaging information was out there, when the next proverbial shoe would drop
and what Trump might say.
Trump administration cuts international healthcare aid to
groups promoting or performing abortions [Jurist, 5/16/17]: President Trump's administration announced
plans Monday to expand the so-called Mexico City Policy blocking international
family planning assistance through the US Agency for International Development to any groups
or programs that provide abortion or abortion education to women.
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:
When Does Political
Gerrymandering Cross a Constitutional Line? [“Sidebar” blog in NY Times, 5/15/17]: The Supreme Court has never struck down an election
map on the ground that it was drawn to make sure one political party would win
an outsize number of seats. But it has left open the possibility that some
kinds of political gamesmanship in redistricting may be too extreme. This
piece, by the Times’ legal writer Adam Liptak, is a must-read on the topic of
gerrymandering.
Voting advocates call
Supreme Court's decision not to hear North Carolina case a win [USA
Today / McClatchy / Politico, 5/15/17]: The
Supreme Court sidestepped the politically divisive issue of voting rights
Monday, refusing to reconsider a lower court's ruling that a North
Carolina photo-ID law discriminated against black voters "with almost
surgical precision."
Republicans may be reaching their breaking point with
Trump [Politico, 5/16/17]: Within hours of Tuesday's report by The New
York Times, there was a distinct shift among congressional Republicans, who
until now have mostly resisted criticizing Trump, let alone demanding the
president be held to account for all he says or does.
Legislation and the Legislative
Process (TOPIC 20)
Chaffetz Says He's Ready to Subpoena
Comey Memo [CNS, 5/17/17]: Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman
of the House Oversight Committee, said Tuesday night he has his “subpoena pen
ready” and asked the FBI to turn over any and all documents it has regarding
communication between President Donald Trump and former FBI director James
Comey.
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:
Press freedom group rips Trump for suggesting Comey jail
reporters [The Hill, 5/16/17]: A press freedom advocacy group is
speaking out on reports that President Trump asked former FBI Director James
Comey to consider jailing journalists, saying the comments "cross a
dangerous line."
Angry Trump tweet
targets daily press briefings [FAC, 5/16/17]: Unhappy
with coverage over the firing of FBI director James Comey, President Donald
Trump tweeted that he could not guarantee his press secretaries’ accuracy so it
might be best to switch to written responses.
San Luis Obispo teacher resigns after penning anti-gay
letter to student newspaper [LA Times, 5/16/17]: A San Luis Obispo
High School teacher has resigned amid controversy over a letter he wrote to the
school’s student newspaper that cited a Bible verse saying sinners and those
who commit homosexual acts “deserve to die.”
Louisiana House Tries to Stop Removal of Confederate Monuments
[CNS, 5/17/17]: Still fighting the Civil War, after hours of heated debate,
the Louisiana House on Monday night approved a bill to protect Confederate
monuments statewide.
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]
How Prosecutors Are
Fighting Trump’s Deportation Plans [Marshall Project, 5/16/17]: Some D.A.’s urge new discretion on pleas,
sentences.
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