Chapter Two Flashcards
Three branches of govt
legislative: Congress (HOR and Senate)
Exectuive (pres and VP)
Judicial (SC)
History of the Const
1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA
27 amendments since created
Bill of Rights (1791)
what are the two functions of the US Const
create a system of govt
establish Bill of Rights
Const related articles to the three branches of govt
legislative: Article I
Executive: A2
Judiciary: A3
why are there seperation of powers
created for checks and balances
Article I Congress
A1, Section 8 - commerce clause
Congress has the power to:
collect taxes,
regulate interstate commerce, declare war
Congress can make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out these powers
how can a bill become a federal law?
must pass both the HOR and Senate and be signed by the US pres (pres can veto the law)
what must happen for the pres veto to be overridden
both houses of Congress must pass the law by a 2/3 majority (super-majoirty)
For Senate: 67 out of 100 votes
HOR: 290 out of 435 votes
typically law will pass US House first and then will go to US Senate for a vote
Article I, Section 8 - commerce clause
Congress shall have power to regulate interstate commerce…among the several states
states “cannot” establish laws and regulations that impose a substantial burden on interstate commerce
commerce clause ISSUE
whether US Const gives federal govt the authority to make law over those activities
Question: does it have a substantial burden on interstate commerce????
commerce clause activity:
1) look at the activity the law is seeking to regulate
- if it has substantial burden on interstate commerce - Congress has the authority to pass federal laws
- if the activity does not have SBIC activity would be regulated within state borders, then that states legislators may pass state laws and Congress will not have authority to regulate or pass federal laws
If Congress attempts to regulate activities which are purely within a state?
commerce clause states Congress cannot interfere with purely state activities
Example One: SBIC
Bibb v. Navajo Freight Lines, Inc.
Illinois law - curved mud guards while AK law wanted straight mud guards
when traveling across states like IL and AK where the states required drivers to switch the types of mud flaps/guards on their trucks
state laws were found to violate A1,S8 Commerce Clause because IL and AK laws imposed a SBIC by regulating mud flaps on semi truck drivers
If does not have SBIC - then separate state laws are ok
Example 2: SBIC
The Controlled Substances Act v. California Compassion
Became a conflict between state and federal law
CA passed a law allowing medical marijuana
Raich was seriously ill with cancer - doc recommended her to grow her own M at her home for medical purposes
Control Substances Act was a fed law prohibiting M
Raich did not sell it or share it; 2022 fed agent from Drug Enforcement Agency seized Raich’s M plants and charged her with violating the CSA
Does the activity of M in CA havs SBIC?
- yes - fed law prevails
CA argued that M plants were intended for each woman’s use only; because growing themselves the M could not have SBIC
- no SBIC - states can pass their own laws
Fed argued that users of medical M - lead to buying on street/growing for deals so does SBIC
US SC ruled: production of commodity for home consumption (wheat or medical M) has a SBIC through supply and demand in national market for that commodity
- SC agreed with Congress
Cole Memorandum was drafted
- CO and WA saying recreational use of M was legal
- never got to SC
- attorney general (of America) CO and WA can as long as keep M within state will not overrule SBIC
- cannot use credit card to purchase
- cannot bring M on plane into other state/across state lines (fed law)
Example 3: SBIC
Can Congress prohibit possession of guns in school zones within their state
(deals with Congress not being able to interfere with purely state activities)
Lopez brought a loaded handgun to school zone and was charged under fed law passed by Congress
(ended up going to states)
supremacy clause
US Const shall be the supreme law of the land
Commerce Clause vs Supreme Clause
DO not get these confused
1) commerce clause gives Congress the power to pass fed laws; Congress may pass fed laws which have SBIC
2) Supremacy Clause states that the US is the supreme law of the US; if any law (fed or state) violates the US Const - will be held unConst
(example: TN passing law prohibiting individuals from peaceful protest at any time on govt public property - violates 1st amendment)
full faith and credit clause
shall be given in each state to public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
judgement
ex: OJ Simpson
basically requires courts follow judgments made in other states
privileges and immunities
Article IV
prohibits state government from discriminating against citizens of other states in favor of resident citizens
ex: having tougher penalties for residents of Ohio convicted of crimes within Michigan
ex: Alaska passed the Alaska Hire statute requiring the qualified A residents be hired in preference to nonresidents for oil/gas industry jobs
can a state universities charge higher tuition to out of state students under privileges and immunity clause
yes
because TN residents get a tax cut (without this, would violate P and I clause)
first amendment
guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, and the press and rights to assemble peaceably and to petition the govt
second amendment
states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed
third amendment
prohibits in peacetime, the lodging of soldiers in any house without the owner’s consent