Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Posts for June 28, 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:

Consensus Marks Supreme Court Term [WSJ, 6/27/17]:  Chief justice steered court to high-profile decisions that were viewed as measured,

Democrats fume over early Gorsuch rulings [Politico, 6/27/17]: Conservative moves by the new Supreme Court justice draw mixed reviews,

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]

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Supreme Court's Entry Ban Case [“Take Care” blog, 6/27/17]: Many close observers of the Court are still scratching their heads, trying to figure out just exactly what the Court did yesterday in Trump v. IRAP–and why.  With the luxury of a few hours to ponder the mysteries, here are some tentative speculations on the most commonly posed questions.

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:

Senate GOP seethes at Trump impulsiveness [Politico, 6/27/17]: There's a widespread sense of exasperation with the president, interviews with nearly two dozen senior Republicans reveal, and deep frustration with an administration they believe doesn’t fully grasp what it will take to preserve the narrow majority or add to it. 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

On Senate Health Bill, Trump Falters in the Closer’s Role [NY Times / SFChron, 6/27/17]: President Trump began his all-hands meeting with Republican senators at the White House on Tuesday by saying they were “very close” to passing a health care bill, just as efforts to fast-track a vote this week collapsed. 

‘Repeal and replace’ was once a unifier for the GOP. Now it’s an albatross. [Wash Post, 6/27/17]: For Republicans, Obamacare was always the great unifier. In a fractious party, everyone agreed that the Affordable Care Act was the wrong solution to what ailed the nation’s health-care system, with too much government and too little freedom for consumers.

McConnell warns Trump, GOP on health bill failure [Politico / CNS, 6/27/17]: Mitch McConnell is delivering an urgent warning to staffers, Republican senators and even the president himself: If Obamacare repeal fails this week, the GOP will lose all leverage and be forced to work with Chuck Schumer. 

Doing Nothing About Taxes Is Better Than What Republicans Want to Do [Justia, 6/28/17]: Neil H. Buchanan, a George Washington law professor and economist, argues that the tax code status quo (imperfect as it is) is better than the changes Republicans are proposing to make. Buchanan explains the difference between the marginal tax rate and the effective tax rate and how Republicans focus only on marginal tax rates in order to mislead the public.

Walters: As California Legislature divides on universal health care, Rendon does the right thing [CalMatters, 6/27/17]: Except for one year, two-plus decades ago, Democrats have controlled both houses of the California Legislature for nearly a half-century.

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

Law Enforcement is Still Used as a Colonial Tool In Indian Country [Marshall Project, 6/28/17]: Leaked documents reveal coordination between big business and law enforcement to break up last year’s protests at Standing Rock.

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:

University Professors Under Fire for Private Speech [Newseum, 6/27/17]: University professors are being asked to take leaves of absence due to controversial online posts. Educators at universities across America have come under fire for social media posts they’ve made outside the classroom, intended for private audiences.

Let Them Eat Cake [Newseum, 6/27/17]: Colorado baker refuses to make a wedding cake for same-sex couple because of his religious views.

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]

Michigan federal judge blocks immediate deportation of more than 1,400 Iraq immigrants [Jurist, 6/28/17]: US District Judge Mark Goldsmith issued a nationwide temporary stay on Monday to protect 1,444 Iraqi immigrants from deportation, extending an order issued last Thursday that applied only to immigrants in the Detroit metro area. 


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