February 21, 2014

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Friday 2/21, I first gave the class a sample test in preparation for next Friday's exam, going over the kinds of questions to expect and what to look for in terms of right and wrong answers. We went over citation form for statutes. We then went over the kinds of authority looked to in Katko, (primary and secondary; mandatory and persuasive) and reviewed the concepts of following, distinguishing, and extending precedent. We will continue on Monday with a brief look at the secondary authority looked to by the Katko court, and the view of the dissenting Justice. We'll also go through the Maine criminal statute that I distributed on Wednesday. The additional assignment for Monday 2/24 is to read through the end of Chapter 1 (Suggs v.Norris).

POS 384 CIVIL LIBERTIES
In class today, Friday 2/21, I first gave the class a sample test in preparation for next Friday's exam, going over the kinds of questions to expect and what to look for in terms of right and wrong answers. We then finished our discussion of Chaplinsky, looking at what is and what isn't still part of unprotected speech today. On Monday we will begin our discussion of Cohen. The assignment for Monday 2/24 is to review Cohen, and to refine your outline of the case.

POS 359 THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT TERM
In class today, Friday 2/21, I distributed one handout, an article by Linda Greenhouse about the the insights of Robert Dahl, a man who helped shape both the contours of what Political Science is, and how we should view the Supreme Court's role in our political structure. We the dove back into the Lozano briefs. We went into the Reply Brief and saw how dad replied to mom's arguments in terms of best interests of the child, and the role of Article 34. We turned to some aspects of the briefing that we had not yet covered, including the deference due to the State Department, and the views of other countries. The assignment for Monday 2/24 is to read and listen to the oral argument in this case, with which we will start on Monday.