^{Posts December 18, 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.2}

I.    Introduction to Law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court [See TOPICS 1-10 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

New Supreme Court cookbook dishes up history, recipes ]AP, 12/17/17]:   At Christmastime, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor would send her colleagues gift-wrapped packages of homemade beef jerky from her family’s cattle ranch in Arizona. Her colleague Ruth Bader Ginsburg pronounced it “very spicy.”

https://apnews.com/1be2c3af0ac1452c8295fe1c58757410/New-Supreme-Court-cookbook-dishes-up-history,-recipes

II.   Defining the Political System: Federalism and Checks and Balances [See TOPICS 11-15 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

^{The American Presidency [TOPIC 15_
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/17/trump-fire-mueller-301516
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)}

Trump says he is not considering firing Mueller [Politico, 12/17/17]: "No, I’m not,” Trump told reporters, when asked if he intended to fire Mueller. The president was returning to the White House from a weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat.

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

Another Escalation in the Judicial War [WSJ, 12/17/17’? What will happen when a Senate majority votes in unison against every presidential nominee?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/another-escalation-in-the-judicial-war-1513538587?shareToken=st2a18c720c88d41a895747aa8f0ea71ed&reflink=article_email_share

IV.  Cminal Law and Procedure (4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

V.   1^st Amendment (Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly) [See TOPICS 29-33 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Federal Appeals Court Invalidates Federal Trademark Law Barring Registration of “Scandalous” Marks [Newseum, 12/18/17]: Courts continue to reduce the ability of the government to limit speech because of its perceived offensiveness.

http://www.newseuminstitute.org/2017/12/18/federal-appeals-court-invalidates-trademark-law-barring-registration-of-scandalous-marks/

9^th Circuit Applies Strict Scrutiny, Upholds Restrictions on Judges, Judicial Candidates  [Newseum, 12/18/17[:The court found that a Montana law that prohibits judicial candidates from using political party endorsements does not violate the First Amendment .

http://www.newseuminstitute.org/2017/12/18/9th-circuit-applies-strict-scrutiny-upholds-restriction-on-judges-and-judicial-candidates/

F-Bombs Away! Scandalous Trademarks No Longer Taboo, Court Rules [THR, Esq. blog, 12/17/17]: The fuct clothing brand has opened the door for f-word-related trademarks in a big free speech ruling.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/f-bombs-away-scandalous-trademarks-no-longer-taboo-court-rules-1068484

VI.  14^th Amendment, Discrimination, Privacy, Working, Citizenship & Immigration [See TOPICS 34-41 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit: