"Standing": Who Can Sue to Protect the Environment?
Marisa A. Martin Teaching Activity by James Landman Individuals, organizations, and government entities are increasingly turning to the courts to resolve environmental debates, but plaintiffs must first prove that they will be harmed in a personal way.
Abraham Lincoln: American Lawyer-President
Brian Dirck Teaching Activity by Tiffany Willey The same characteristics that made Lincoln a tenacious lawyer also made him a formidable president.
The Chicago 8 Trial, 40 Years Later: A Case Study in Teaching U.S. v. Dellinger (1969)
Jeanne Polk Barr A class reenactment of the Chicago 8 trial offers students a close look at the rights and restrictions of free speech and dissent in America.
The Reporter's Privilege Under Fire: Is the American Press Still Free?
Natalie West When students study the issue of reporter's privilege they will understand why the courts and legislatures still struggle to define this protection, more than 150 years after the first American reporter was jailed for refusing to reveal a source.
How Do Tax Laws Reflect American Values?
An Interview with William J. Wilkins Taxes have played a significant role throughout American history—provoking revolution, inspiring representative government, and financing war and major domestic initiatives.
Using Literature to Teach the Rule of Law
James Landman Some children's novels offer entertaining and provocative explorations of the rule of law that can engage students and increase their understanding of law.
Chew Heong v. United States: Chinese Exclusion and the Federal Courts
Edited by James H. Landman A close look at the case of Chew Heong, a Chinese immigrant who challenged the nineteenth-century Chinese exclusion laws, provides important insight into early U.S. efforts to control immigration.
Out of Range: An Interview with Mark Tushnet on the Second Amendment
James H. Landman Teaching Activity by Michelle Parrini The study of competing interpretations of the Second Amendment illuminates for students why an acceptable compromise on gun policies has been so elusive.
Object Lessons: The Law of Cultural Property
James H. Landman Teaching Activities by Michelle Parrini Many interests can be at stake in conflicts over cultural property. A close look at three recent cases can guide students to reflect on issues related to ownership and control of cultural property.
The Great Firewall of China
Shawn Healy Teaching Activities by Michelle Parrini China's Internet censorship and the collaboration of some American companies with Chinese policies serve as a starting point for a discussion of the First Amendment and the extent to which freedom of expression varies from nation to nation.
Seeking Good Credit—And Keeping It
Katie Fraser Teaching Activities by James H. Landman Young people must learn basic concepts about credit long before they sign up for credit cards of their own. This article outlines ways to establish a credit record and looks at the legal consequences of failing to properly manage credit.
Search and Seizure in the Schools
Kari Staros and Charles F. Williams Students will learn about key Fourth Amendment concepts and the extent to which the amendment's protections apply to their lives in and out of school.
The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency:
An Interview with Judge Richard Posner James Landman In this interview, Judge Richard Posner explores the balance between constitutionally-protected liberties and security concerns.
Supreme Court Preview 2006
Charles F. Williams Recent Supreme Court decisions showed that the new Court is split on hot-button issues. Topics this Court will tackle in 2006 include race and schools, the partial birth abortion ban, and punitive damages.
###The Immigration Reform Debate —Sonya Olds Som and Eileen Momblanco A study of key issues such as amnesty, enforcement, and employer liability will help students understand the complexity of immigration policy.
Bioethics and the Stem Cell Research Debate
—Robyn S. Shapiro Ethical issues in science and medicine continue to be at the center of a charged debate—with stem cell research becoming a significant political issue. Increasingly, the law is serving as a key forum for the evolution of this debate.
###Executive Power in an Age of Terror —James H. Landman In today's era of terrorism, marked by a non-traditional enemy, should the executive branch have greater authority? This article looks at the extent of the president's power and the role of Congress and the judiciary in checking and balancing that power.
The Shadow War
—Michelle Parrini and Charles F. Williams A renewed U.S. government emphasis on espionage to guard against future terrorist attacks brings with it a host of legal challenges concerning the identification and exposure of covert agents and their legal rights.
Balancing Act: First and Sixth Amendment Rights in High-Profile Cases
James H. Landman As media coverage of high profile cases continues to intensify, so have tensions between two of our most fundamental constitutional rights: the media's right to observe and report on a trial, and the defendant's right to an impartial jury.