^{Posts December 19, 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:

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 Clash of Gun Rights and Federalism [Jurist, 12/18/17]:}  For years, liberals and conservatives have argued about how to strike the ideal balance between federal and state authority. While liberals have generally favored expansion of federal power, conservatives have called for states to be given more room to make their own decisions about difficult issues like civil rights, abortion, health care, marriage, and education.

^{http://www.jurist.org/forum/2017/12/Allen-Rostron-gun-rights-and-federalism.php}

^{The American Presidency [TOPIC 15_}

The battle to lead Trump’s potential impeachment [Politico, 12/18/17]: Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), two longtime members who both hail from power centers of the Democratic Party, are competing to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. That’s the panel that historically holds the keys to the impeachment process.

^{https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/18/trump-impeachment-lofgren-nadler-303543}

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:

^{Legislation and}

Why Corker flipped on the tax bill [Politico, 12/18/17]: The GOP senator says he had nothing to do with a provision that could enrich him personally, as liberal critics allege.

^{https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/18/bob-corker-tax-bill-kickback-republicans-respond-302482}

 ^{the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)}

GOP faces 5-day scramble to pass tax bill, avoid government shutdown [Washington Post, 12/17/17]: Republicans plan to vote on the tax bill early in the week, leaving them little time to strike a deal with Democrats to authorize funds to keep the government running. 

Lawmakers' sex harassment training like '4th grade lecture' [AP, 12/18/17]: When Assembly lawmakers met in November to discuss ways of improving their policies for preventing and responding to sexual harassment, Democratic Assemblyman Ken Cooley had an idea: Ban cellphones from the two-hour harassment training lawmakers must attend.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CA_CALIFORNIA_LEGISLATURE_HARASSMENT_TRAINING_CAOL

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:

School district and sheriff investigating suicide of bullying victim; family files claim [LA Times, 12/18/17]: An attorney for the Yucaipa family said that the suicide happened after relentless taunting and name calling, which included Rosalie being told “she had ugly teeth, that she was ugly, a whore, a slut, and had sexually transmitted diseases,” according to a release. Classmates also allegedly circulated a video portraying “what an ugly girl looked like and what a pretty girl looked like and used a picture of Rosalie to portray the ugly girl.” The video was circulated throughout the school and online, her mother said.

^{http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-yucaipa-youth-suicide-20171218-story.html}

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:

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:

Reflections on America’s Reckoning with Sexual Harassment [Jiustia, 12/19/17]: Professor Grossman reflects on the wave of stories of 

 sexual harassment and assault that have come to light in 2017. Grossman points out that sexual harassment of women, particularly in the workplace, is not a new phenomenon, but the sheer number of women sharing their stories today has emboldened others to come forward, and may even signal a cultural shift to address this pervasive problem. Grossman argues that true change will only come when institutional actors decide to hold themselves accountable for the way women are treated.

https://verdict.justia.com/2017/12/19/reflections-americas-reckoning-sexual-harassment