Chapter 3: Criminal Statutes

Question 1

principle of legality

Answer 1

prohibits retroactive lawmaking, prevents obstruction of Due Process, and requires “fair notice” for citizens to make sure they are aware of what specific conduct is being prohibited by statute

Question 2

pari materia

Answer 2

courts look at similar statutes to help determine meaning of that statute (peeping tom statute from Keeler Case in another state)

Question 3

rule of lenity

Answer 3

ambiguous terms in a statute should be resolved in favor of the defendant

Question 4

vagueness doctrine

Answer 4

lacks clarity to the point where a law abiding citizen doesn’t know what conduct is considered prohibited or criminal

Question 5

overbroad

Answer 5

language criminalizes both good and bad behavior

Question 6

legislative intent

Answer 6

found when looking at the bill (because you see WHY statute was created in the first place)