Monday, July 31, 2017

Posts for July 31, 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]

Trump Swears In Kelly, Insists There’s No Chaos at White House [CNS, 7/31/17]: Hoping to turn the page on a tumultuous opening chapter to his presidency, President Donald Trump insisted on Monday there is “no chaos” in his White House as he swore in retired Marine Gen. John Kelly as chief of staff.

Without Priebus, Trump Is a Man Without a Party [Politico, 7/30/17]: By ousting Reince Priebus, the president is severing one of his few remaining ties to the GOP.

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:

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

How tax breaks could break tax reform [Politico, 7/29/17]: Hundreds of special tax provisions for groups of all stripes litter the tax code, and clearing them out won't be easy. 

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

California's minor life-without-parole law blasted as unfair [AP, 7/31/17]: The California Supreme Court and state lawmakers say current state law violates recent rulings by the nation's high court limiting life sentences for teenagers convicted of murder. The U.S. Supreme Court bans mandatory life-without-parole sentences for those under 18 convicted of murder. The court made the ruling retroactive last year for more than 2,000 offenders nationwide.

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:

Court: Rastafari Louisiana inmate can keep his dreadlocks [AP, 7/28/17]: A federal appeals court says a Louisiana inmate, an adherent of the Rastafari religion, can keep dreadlocks he has grown as part of his religion.

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]

Fearful of Court, Asylum Seekers are Banished in Absentia [The Marshall Project, 7/30/17]: Under Trump, an Obama strategy unravels.

The High Long-Term Costs of Engaging in Torture [Justia, 7/31/17]: Professor Wexler explains the significance of the Canadian government’s recent settlement with and apology to Omar Khadr, a 15-year-old Canadian member of al-Qaeda who fought against the United States in Afghanistan. Wexler explains that while a majority of Canadians oppose the settlement, Prime Minister Trudeau has chosen to pay the political and economic price for his predecessor’s decision to allow Canadian interrogators to participate in the Guantanamo regime and for his refusal to seek Khadr’s return to Canada.

Senate passes legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea [Jurist, 7/29/18]: In a 98-2 vote, the US Senate on Thursday passed H.R. 3364, a bill that imposes new sanctions on Russia. This development comes two days after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bill.

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