The Supreme Court let stand a California court's ruling sharply limiting the right of administrators at public colleges to interfere with faculty members' curriculum decisions. The ruling came from a 1986 decision by the San Diego Community College District to bar the staging of a controversial play. (MSE)

Discusses a faculty seminar on the role of interest groups in the judicial process, focusing on U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Explores the dynamics of social change and defines interest groups. Examines the role of interest groups in civil rights litigation and delineates the contours of the current constitutional changes. Includes seminar…

Describes the annual Moot Court Competition held each year in Sacramento, California and supported by the Citizenship and Law-Related Education Center. The program gives high school students the opportunity to learn about the nation's justice system using a role-playing scenario of an appellate-level court argument. (MJP)

Identifies and discusses recent decisions and upcoming cases of the Supreme Court that are likely to be of interest to teachers. Educational issues addressed include Internet access and censorship, affirmative action, sexual harassment, drug testing, and the separation of church and state. Includes a brief description Supreme Court duties. (MJP)

Recent appellate court decisions concerning private social clubs, unreported decisions brought by fraternities, and developments in related case law have strengthened the position that college social fraternity chapters at public colleges and universities may claim a full range of legal protections under the constitutional doctrine known as…

The almost universal doctrine of charitable immunity was traditionally justified at one time because of the altruistic nature of charities. The reasons for abolition of charitable immunity in most states have generally been two-fold: (1) charities are no longer low-budget, marginal operations; (2) the risk of crippling verdicts can be minimized…

This discussion of the special legal status of the University of Minnesota, known as constitutional autonomy, defines this status, states the rationale for the principle, and describes the relevant territorial act and constitutional provision. The main part of the legal analysis examines Minnesota court cases which addressed the issue of the…

Designed to provide students and adults with a learning experience related to the jury system, this game focuses on the jury selection process. In doing so, the game examines an important element of a fair trial--the right of the accused to be judged by an impartial jury. The game is designed for four class periods and can be used with a class of…

This paper provides legal information about the role of physical conduct in student-teacher, teacher-teacher, and administrator-teacher roles. The two legal theories that pertain to physical conduct in the schools are found in Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 and 42 U.S.C. (1983) for violations of due process and equal protection…

This book focuses on book-banning in public schools and libraries, a practice that prohibits or restricts access to books already published, distributed, and even approved by school or library boards. The major grounds for censorship are sex, profanity, and religion, but they are often intertwined to cover a broad range of "unacceptable"…

This resource guide has been designed to assist teachers and students in the study of key U.S. Supreme Court cases. Each of the 93 cases listed includes a presentation of the facts, issue, and decision of the Court. Twenty-five commonly used textbooks were analyzed to determine the extent to which they cited the Supreme Court cases. No text cited…

In March 1990, the Wisconsin legislature passed into law the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Its enactment made Wisconsin the only state in the nation with a private school voucher plan. Litigation concerning the constitutionality of the program has involved the following actions: (1) the Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to hear the case; (2)…

This annotated bibliography focuses on the constitutional role of Oklahoma by highlighting the constitutionally significant cases that arose during the territorial period and after statehood. The intention is to bring important constitutional issues closer to home, and thereby create an appreciation for the Constitution as a vital, living…

An overview of the constitutionality of various state public education finance systems is presented. Issues addressed include education as a fundamental right mandated by the education clause of state constitutions and the impact of the equal protection clause on the education clause. Criteria for successful challenges to state school finance…

The rights of victims of crime or violence in school settings are analyzed in this book. The first chapter looks at the scope of the problem and outlines the rights already established for those accused of crimes. The second chapter focuses on efforts to make educational environments safe, including a 1982 amendment to the California Constitution.…