Cline on the Constitution

Emergency Orders

February 19, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Judiciary / Presidency

In this week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution, I decided to pause in my review of voting rights cases to consider the President’s recent actions concerning our Southern Border. The President’s declaration of an emergency and his orders to transfer funds to construct barriers on the Southern Border has generated extensive commentary on the […]

Voting, Part Two

February 12, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Equal Protection / Federalism / Judiciary / Uncategorized

In Abbott v. Perez, The Supreme Court slapped a federal district court with a much-needed douse of cold water in an attempt to wake them up, force them to embrace reality for once and have them return to their lane in the governance scheme set out in the Constitution. Abbott is the second case on voting […]

Voting

January 29, 2019 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Uncategorized

This Week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution Voting The process of casting a vote is changing. Who, when, and how is an accident of location. It can be vastly different from state to state. The image of an adult citizen showing up at the polls on election day, being handed a ballot, retiring to the voting […]

Poetry in the Public Square

January 18, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Literary Writings / Poetry / Public Interest / Uncategorized

Is poetry a public or private thing? One’s love of country could be deliciously stirred by the magic of poetry: “This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, …………. This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England . . .” Historically western poetry concerned itself with […]

Cline on the Constitution Privacy of Cell phone data

October 15, 2018 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Privacy

I am back with a new segment of Cline on the Constitution. Took a little hiatus to explore the Mississippi via Paddle Boat. Great trip. I then monitored the resumption of hearings on Justice Kavanaugh. Much has been discussed about Due Process and the Presumption of Innocence. I won’t repeat the various arguments. […]

Privacy and Property

September 21, 2018 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Privacy

This week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution Privacy and Property One momentous decision of the Supreme Court’s last term involved cell-phone privacy. In Carpenter vs. U.S., penned by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court found that data collected from a cell phone that pinpointed a suspected robber’s movements over 127 days involving […]

September 2, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Judiciary

Justice Kavanaugh and Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie Tuesday morning the Senate will open hearings on the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The candidate has lived an honorable life, is well liked, enjoys a reputation as a good and decent man, and is an experienced and imminently qualified jurist who […]

The Cake Baking case

August 28, 2018 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Free Speech / Religion

This week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution. “We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Anyone.” When Americans think of Civil Rights, they often think of the Constitution. That is okay. But it is inaccurate. Our most fundamental rights are enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. There is, however, […]

Speech Issues on Abortion

August 13, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Free Speech / Religion

This week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution continues the review of major cases decided by the Supreme Court in the last term. The court issued opinions on two cases involving Freedom of Speech and Association. In one case the Court affirmed an important principle regarding Free Speech. In the other they punted. […]

Cline on the Constitution-Danger of One Person Rule

August 6, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Judiciary / Separation of Powers

This Week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution. The Danger of One Person Rule Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination is currently being navigated through the shark infested waters of the United States Senate populated with man eaters hungry to attack, chew up and dismember someone who, by all accounts, is a good and honorable […]

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