Jan 10
Constitution Check: Is the “war on terrorism” coming to an end?
Lyle Denniston looks at the legalities of officially ending “armed conflict” in the war on terrorism, in the wake of rulings made after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The statement at issue: “The authorization that was passed in 2001 was basically authorization for the military to engage in armed conflict…. Once that authorization at some point… [Continue Reading]
Jan 8
Constitution Check: Is the U.S. House of Representatives unrepresentative?
Lyle Denniston looks at the complicated issue of gerrymandering, and what constitutional issues lie ahead for the process of drawing up congressional districts to favor a political party. The statement at issue: “As a new Congress convenes, it has become an unquestioned truth among Republicans that their party has as much of a mandate as… [Continue Reading]
Jan 2
Constitution Check: Do profit-making corporations have religious rights?
Lyle Denniston looks at one company’s claim it has religious rights that exempt it from the Affordable Care Act’s requirement for free birth-control services. The statements at issue: “This Court has not previously addressed [religious freedom] or free exercise claims brought by closely held for-profit corporations and their controlling shareholders alleging that the mandatory provision… [Continue Reading]
Dec 31
Is America being held in ‘constitutional bondage’?
Lyle Denniston comments on a Georgetown professor’s claim that the Constitution itself is a big reason that the American system of government can be seen as dysfunctional. The statements at issue: “Observers are reaching the conclusion that the American system of government is broken. But almost no one blames the culprit: our insistence on obedience… [Continue Reading]
Dec 26
The Constitution in 2013: Gains or losses on rights?
The Supreme Court–the place in America where the Constitution most often gets new meaning–moves into 2013 after a momentous year of re-examining the core constitutional structure of the U.S. government. As the New Year unfolds, the court switches its center of attention from constitutional architecture to constitutional rights. Many other public actors, of course, contribute… [Continue Reading]
