RLUIPA and Commerce Clause

Does Congress have power under the Commerce Clause to enact RLUIPA?(link)

Class Schedule--UPDATE

I will be speaking at Detroit Mercy Law School on Thursday Sept. 24 and conducting a CLE at the Nebraska Bar Annual Meeting on Friday October 9. So we will not be having class on those dates.

I plan to make up one of the classes by going 5 minutes over every class (i.e. until 11:50).

Update: In lieu of a physical make-up class for the second class cancellation, I would like you all to view Prof. Todd Zywicki's talk on "Should We Repeal the 17th Amendment." Here is a link to the YouTube video.

We will discuss the 17th Amendment and the Senate next Friday (Sept. 25) so please view this video before then.

For This Thursday's Class--Something More to read

For our discussion on the second assignment about the "Great Debate" (Handout No. 2) regarding original understanding vs. the "Living Constitution," I would also like you to read the Sup Ct's recent same-sex marriage decision. Here is a link:

Obergefell v Hodges (2015)
 

For now, I would like you to focus on the question whether Obergefell is a legitimate interpretation of the Written Constitution or whether it is an exercise of raw judicial power. Are you convinced that the Constitution was written to provide a redefinition of marriage? Is this an issue committed to the federal judiciary by the written Constitution? Or is it an issue that should be decided by the process of democratic self-government in the states?

In other words, let's use Obergefell as a case study of the Great Debate over how the Constitution should be read.

So, to be clear, for Thursday's class the Assignment is Handout No. 2 (on the Great Debate) plus Obergefell.