Monday, October 30, 2017

Posts October 30, 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:

Thurgood Marshall movie faithful to the facts, and the man [AP / Connecticut Post, 10/29/17]:  Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s widow, Cecilia, has seen two showings of the new movie “Marshall” about her late husband. She liked it, but had one observation about actor Chadwick Boseman, who plays the civil rights pioneer and legal giant.

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]

Special Counsel charges 3 individuals over Russia probe [Jurist, 10/30/17]:  Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Monday revealed charges against two former Trump campaign officials, and a plea agreement with a third, marking the first criminal charges to come from a probe into possible Russian influence in US political affairs.

Trump campaign adviser admitted to lying about Russian contacts[Wash Post, 10/30/17]: George Papadopoulos, a former campaign adviser to President Trump, pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to federal officials about contacts he had with people he believed had ties to the Russian government while he was affiliated with Trump’s campaign. 

III. The Political System: Voting and Campaigns [See TOPICS 16-20 in the 5th edition o
of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Sexual Misconduct in California’s Capitol Is Difficult to Escape [NY Times, 10/29/17]: There were the demeaning personal chores she said her boss assigned her, like buying a shower curtain and blankets. And there was the time that he appeared at the door of his apartment with his pants open, she said, exposing himself to her when she went to pick him up for a vote.

GOP Tax Bill to Include Property Tax Deduction, Brady Says [Roll Call, 10/29/17[: Keeping the property tax deductions is a nod to Republicans from high-tax states like New York and New Jersey who have threatened to oppose the GOP tax bill if the plan would eliminate deductions for state and local taxes. It’s unclear how many of those members will be satisfied by the announcement as it appears the deduction for state and local income taxes will still be eliminated, under the GOP plan. 

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 :

‘Restorative Justice’ for Shoplifting? A Court Calls It Extortion [Marshall Project, 10/29/17]: A company’s program, used by Walmart and others, bypasses the cops.

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:

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:

Court rejects Trump's transgender troop ban [Politico, 10/30/17]: The Pentagon cannot enforce the Trump administration’s ban on transgender troops serving in the military, a federal court ruled in a decision released Monday that advocates called a “colossal victory.”


No comments:

Post a Comment