1. A three-judge panel of the 9^thS. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld an injunction against enforcing a California law that required registered sex offenders to tell authorities their Internet user names, email addresses and other identifying information. The law gave registered sex offenders 24 hours to report to law enforcement in writing when they changed their email addresses or other names by which they were identified in instant messaging or on social media and when they changed Internet providers.

What is wrong with this law that resulted in the appellate court striking it down? (1 pt)                    

2. The Federal Communications Commission will soon issue new regulations regarding “net neutrality.”

2 (a) What did President Obama, in a recent video speech, urge the FCC to do?

2 (b) Who is opposed to the President’s proposal and what do they want?

3. What does the James Risen case demonstrate about the concept of “reporter’s privilege?” What kind of law is needed (and has been proposed) at the federal level to remedy this situation?

4(a) Does the First Amendment prohibit judges from issuing restraining orders (“gag”orders) to stop attorneys, witnesses, jurors and other participants in an ongoing trial from talking about it? For what purpose might judges want to do this?

4 (b) Does the First Amendment prohibit judges from issuing restraining orders to the press to stop them from publicizing legally obtained information about ongoing trials? Cite the Supreme Court case that ruled on this issue and what the court ruled.

5. Read the following editorial and fill in the blank. What protection does this Amendment provide? (2 pts)
6. A company called Aereo recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. What was Aereo’s business and why did it have to file for bankruptcy? (3 pts)
7. The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled in an online defamation case that the defendant had to remove the defamatory statements from the internet. But the court declined to prohibit the defendant from posting similar statements in the future. Why? (1 pt)
8. What are the two issues that are in conflict here? (The NSA and its supporters say the surveillance programs are necessary. For what purpose? Opponents of the NSA’s surveillance argue against it on what basis?) (2 pts)

9. On what constitutional grounds (what Amendment) are the NSA’s surveillance programs now being challenged in several federal appellate courts? What constitutionally required court-issued document is the NSA not obtaining before conducting wiretapping?(2 pts)
10. What U.S. Senator introduced a bill last fall to rein in the NSA’s spying, and what is the name of the bill? (2 pts)