Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Posts for August 22, 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:

Court in SF reinstates environmental suit against US military base [SF Chron / CNS / AP, 8/22/17]: A federal appeals court on Monday reinstated a San Francisco lawsuit by environmental groups challenging the construction of a relocated U.S. Marine Corps air base on the Japanese island of Okinawa, a controversy that has been brewing for more than two decades.

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

In escalating America’s longest war, Trump acts against his ‘original instinct’ [Wash Post /CNS, 8/21/18]: On Monday night, President Trump once again had to look at a teleprompter and say words he had never expected to say. Even though he had said for years that the United States should pull out of Afghanistan, Trump announced that he would send more troops to the country’s longest war. 

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:

Explicit Bigotry and Veiled Racism in the Trump Era [Justia, 8/22/17]: Professor Buchanan warns of the false distinction between being racist and supporting racist policies. He points out racism is not limited to those marching with Nazis and Klansmen; to consistently support policies that invariably harm disadvantaged people is its own form of racism and is itself reproachable.

Governors step forward as Trump’s popularity wanes [SF Chron, 8/21/17]: When GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona was asked last month about his stand on the Republicans’ controversial health care reform plan, he said that he’d do whatever Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey wanted.

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:

The Fight Over Free Speech Online [New Yorker, 8/28/16 issue]: When private companies take down Web pages, it isn't a First Amendment violation, but it does enrage many on the right.

Berkeley council passes urgency rules for non-permitted rallies [EB Times, 8/21/17]: The City Council on Aug. 18 approved an urgency ordinance authorizing the city manager to issue rules for unpermitted events, over the objections of numerous speakers who warned it is unnecessary, too broad, susceptible to abuse, and thus a threat to free speech.

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]

UN: Afghanistan village attacks 'may amount to war crimes' [Jurist, 8/22/17]: The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a special report on Sunday detailing the human rights violations committed during attacks on the Mirza Olang village earlier this month. During the three-day event, Taliban and local Islamic State (IS) fighters reportedly killed at least 36 people in the predominantly Shi'ite Muslim village.


No comments:

Post a Comment