America Politics update - Unit 4C

US politics has been rampant over the last few weeks, and in light of the 4C exam next week, here are a few more things to talk about...

Supreme Court

Two major cases over the last few days:

Employment Discrimination 

The court decided in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores that Samantha Elauf was not required to make a specific request for a religious accommodation to wear a hijab when applying for a position at a children’s clothing store owned by the company.

This case illustrates the greater protection of First Amendment rights - freedom of expression and religion... 

8-1

MAJORITY

Sotomayor

Kagan

Ginsburg

Breyer

Kennedy

Roberts

Scalia

Alito

Separation of Powers in Foreign Affairs 

The court decided in Zivotofsky v. Kerry that Congress was not entitled to order the State Department to “record the place of birth as Israel” in the passports of American children born in Jerusalem if their parents requested.

This is an incredibly important separation of powers case showing how Congress overstepped the mark by telling the State Dept to record the birth place as Israel for the American children born in Jerusalem - the Executive should have sovereign control of foreign affairs and international relations, not Congress. This case also illustrates the disintegration of the separation of powers and creates further evidence of separate institutions SHARING power. 

6-3

MAJORITY

DISSENT

Sotomayor

Kagan

Ginsburg

Breyer

Kennedy

Roberts

Scalia

Alito

Thomas