Posts for July 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.
UCI rescinds 500 admission offers; student leaders demand
apology [OC Register, 7/28/17]: UC Irvine has rescinded more than 500
admissions for the fall and some students are calling foul, saying the
university has erroneously revoked their admittances.
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:
2017 Annual Supreme Court Round Up [Federalist Society video on YouTube, 7/27/17]:
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 D.C. Circuit Breaks
New Second Amendment Ground [“Take Care” blog, 7/27/17]: There
is one issue on which President Trump has so far been able to deliver much of
what he promised on the campaign trail: Gun rights. The NRA broke its
own record for campaign spending in supporting him, and is reaping the reward. As
the NRA’s executive director put it recently, “For America’s law-abiding gun
owners, the Trump administration is proving to be among the
best in history.” The case at issue is Wrenn v. D.C.
View the Wrenn ruling:
The
American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
An Attorney General
Under (Friendly) Fire: Why Removing Jeff Sessions Is Beside the Point in President
Trump’s War Against Robert Mueller [Justia, 7/27/17]: Professor
Amar provides three reasons for his conclusion that the disposition of Sessions
is beside the point in the president’s war against Mueller, but he points out
that there are more downsides to getting rid of Sessions (for Trump) than there
are upsides.
Trump's Tweeted Transgender Ban Is Not a Law [New Yorker, 7/27/17]: A tweet by a President is neither a law nor an executive order.
That reality is important to keep in mind when considering President Trump’s tweet on Wednesday
morning, saying that the U.S. government “will not accept or allow transgender
individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.”
A Ban on Transgender Troops Is Doomed in the Courts [Bloomberg, 7/27/17]: Trump's tweets announcing the
policy point to discriminatory intent, not a real justification.
In One Day, Trump Administration Lands 3 Punches Against
Gay Rights [SF Chron, 7/27/17]: The Trump administration abruptly waded
into the culture wars over gay rights this week, signaling in three separate
actions that it will use the powers of the federal government to roll back
civil rights for gay and transgender people.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/lgbt/article/Trump-administration-signals-loss-of-ground-for-11562178.php
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:
The Democrats’ Better
Way: Positive Messaging or Pandering to Trump Voters Who Are Never Coming Back?
[Justia, 7/26/17]: Professor Buchanan praises Democrats for coming up with a
message that preserves the party’s commitment to social justice issues, rather
than attempting to woo Trump voters by appealing to what Trump appealed to.
Legislation and the Legislative
Process (TOPIC 20)
Senate Rejects Obamacare Repeal Bill
[Politico, 7/28/17]: A night of high-drama ends with a staggering
setback to the GOP’s campaign to scuttle the health care law.
Border wall $1.6B bill includes cash for new San Diego
wall [SD Union-Trib, 7/26/17]: Congress could vote as early as this
week for a spending bill that would kickstart the building of a border wall in
San Diego and Texas.
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
Drunk driving in your own
driveway? Supreme Court of Michigan says "yes." [MLive, 7/26/17]: The Michigan Supreme Court this week reversed two
lower court rulings that a man couldn't be prosecuted for driving
drunk in his own driveway.
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:
Podcast: Good Enough for Government Work [Newseum, 7/26/17]: Government employees are in the
best position to reveal government corruption and misconduct. So when can they
be fired for their speech — and when does the First Amendment protect them?
Arizona Supreme Court lets ruling stand that protects
Republic journalist's notes [Arizona
Republic, 7/26/17]: The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a case
against an Arizona Republic editor after a 19-month legal
battle in which the newspaper argued that he did not have to turn over his
unpublished notes from an interview with a crime victim.
A Supreme Court ruling has opened the floodgates to a
stream of gross trademarks [The
Verge, 7/26/17]: 'The Piss Tape is Real'
has a good shot at becoming a registered US trademark/
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:
Justice Dept.
Weighs In Against Protections for Gays in the Workplace [NY Times /
BuzzFeed / “On the Case” blog, 7/27/17]: The
Department of Justice has filed court papers arguing that a major federal civil
rights law does not protect employees from discrimination based on sexual
orientation, taking a stand against a decision reached under President Obama
that workplace bias because of sexual orientation is illegal.
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
Report: same-sex relationships still illegal in 72
countries [Jurist, 7/28/17]: The report
identifies these 72 nations as "criminalising States" or countries
where gay individuals can face legal ramifications if their relationships are
disclosed.
UN asks North and South Korea to open human rights
discussions [Jurist, 7/27/17]: The UN
Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, Tomas Ojea Quintana, is asking North and South Korea to open discussions
concerning human rights following his second visit to South Korea.
Russia Retaliates Against US Over
Proposed Sanctions [CNS, 7/28/17]: Russia seized two diplomatic
properties on Friday and order the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to cut its staff by
September in retaliation for pending new American sanctions over the Kremlin’s
alleged meddling in the 2016 election and its invasion of Ukraine.
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