Changes

Each of today’s topics has been in the national news the past month.  In fact, each of these issues is prominent every month.

Each of today’s topics has been in the national news the past month.  In fact, each of these issues is prominent every month.

The Establishment Clause is in the media as the Alabama Supreme Court expelled Chief Justice Roy Moore from his position simply because he installed the Ten Commandments in the courthouse and did not immediately comply with an order by a federal district judge to remove it.

The Establishment Clause is in the media as the Alabama Supreme Court expelled Chief Justice [[Roy Moore]] from his position simply because he installed the Ten Commandments in the courthouse and did not immediately comply with an order by a federal district judge to remove it.

Free speech is in the news as the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of new regulations to limit political contributions and expenditures.  It is also in the news as schools consider whether students may wear T-shirts that protest President Bush.

Free speech is in the news as the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of new regulations to limit political contributions and expenditures.  It is also in the news as schools consider whether students may wear T-shirts that protest President Bush.

Gender equality is in the news in the fight over Title IX and college sports.  I just wrote and filed an amicus curiae brief on this matter before the D.C. Circuit.  I will explain further below.

Gender equality is in the news in the fight over Title IX and college sports.  I just wrote and filed an amicus curiae brief on this matter before the D.C. Circuit.  I will explain further below.

There are two other issues that will have to wait until the next lecture: abortion and racial equality.  Both issues have had enormous impact on American politics.  Abortion has been influential since 1973, when Roe v. Wade invented a constitutional right to abortion.  Many voters decide who to vote based on it, and the pro-abortion media distorts its coverage of candidates based on their views on this single issue.

There are two other issues that will have to wait until the next lecture: abortion and racial equality.  Both issues have had enormous impact on American politics.  [[Abortion]] has been influential since 1973, when Roe v. Wade invented a constitutional right to abortion.  Many voters decide who to vote based on it, and the pro-abortion media distorts its coverage of candidates based on their views on this single issue.

Race has been controversial from the very beginning of our country, right through the Civil War until the present day.

Race has been controversial from the very beginning of our country, right through the Civil War until the present day.

Political moderates tend to think we give criminals far too many rights.  President Nixon picked up a huge moderate vote by promising to be “tough on crime” and in favor of “law and order.”  Conservatives at that time were also fed up with all the pro-defendant Supreme Court decisions of the “Warren Court” (i.e., the Supreme Court while Earl Warren was Chief Justice).  It was the Warren Court that forced the police to tell suspected criminals that they have a “right to remain silent.”  Many were outraged by that decision in Miranda v. Arizona (see p. 344).

Political moderates tend to think we give criminals far too many rights.  President Nixon picked up a huge moderate vote by promising to be “tough on crime” and in favor of “law and order.”  Conservatives at that time were also fed up with all the pro-defendant Supreme Court decisions of the “Warren Court” (i.e., the Supreme Court while Earl Warren was Chief Justice).  It was the Warren Court that forced the police to tell suspected criminals that they have a “right to remain silent.”  Many were outraged by that decision in Miranda v. Arizona (see p. 344).

Today, however, some conservatives agree with liberals that the federal government has gone too far in expanding its criminal power.  The Patriot Act was passed to combat terrorism, but it has now been used to investigate non-terrorists also.  Almost no conservative is concerned aboutNovember 16, 2003e suspected terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, but conservatives are worried about abuse of federal powers against American citizens.  President Bill Clinton’s White House was found to have top secret FBI files on his political opponents.  Do we want a future president to be able to prosecute his adversaries?  Do we want to allow even the chance of that?  The Constitution only allows a few federal crimes, like treason or misconduct on the high seas.

Today, however, some conservatives agree with liberals that the federal government has gone too far in expanding its criminal power.  The Patriot Act was passed to combat terrorism, but it has now been used to investigate non-terrorists also.  Almost no conservative is concerned about suspected terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, but conservatives are worried about abuse of federal powers against American citizens.  President Bill Clinton’s White House was found to have top secret FBI files on his political opponents.  Do we want a future president to be able to prosecute his adversaries?  Do we want to allow even the chance of that?  The Constitution only allows a few federal crimes, like treason or misconduct on the high seas.

'''V. Gender Equality'''

'''V. Gender Equality'''

Even self-funded teams, like wrestling, cannot play in this numbers game.  Some believe that liberal feminists really want to eliminate mens’ teams as their goal, since they resent all-male competitions like the Super Bowl, the World Series, and competitive wrestling.  But this numerical equality causes all sorts of problems for women and men.  Colleges are replacing their small, but popular, women’s gymnastics team with a larger crew team, made up of women with no crew experience or prior interest.  

Even self-funded teams, like wrestling, cannot play in this numbers game.  Some believe that liberal feminists really want to eliminate mens’ teams as their goal, since they resent all-male competitions like the Super Bowl, the World Series, and competitive wrestling.  But this numerical equality causes all sorts of problems for women and men.  Colleges are replacing their small, but popular, women’s gymnastics team with a larger crew team, made up of women with no crew experience or prior interest.  

One of California Governor Gray Davis’ last acts in office was to extend this “proportionality test” to California public high schools.  What do you think?

In California and Michigan there has been a big push to apply the “proportionality test” to public high schools.  What do you think?

'''VI. Issues '''

'''VI. Issues '''