Con Law Flashcards
judicial powers
Constitutional article that sets up federal judiciary
Article III
judicial powers
power of federal courts
- decide cases and controversies (not any legal question they want / advisory opinions)
- only certain categories of cases and controversies - Federal Question + Diversity jurisdiction
- exercise power over judicial review - “to say what the law is”
tip
proposed legislation - what can federal courts do?
CANNOT opine on whether proposed legislation would be constitutional b/c outside scope of Art III
judicial powers / state sovereign immunity
state sovereign immunity: can you sue a state for money damages in federal court?
11th
generally no UNLESS
- state consents to the suit OR
- Cg chose to abrogate that sovereign immunity through an enumerated power
only applies to states + state agencies, not local govt
judicial powers / state sovereign immunity
what level of govt does sovereign immunity apply to?
11th
only state sovereign immunity under 11th
doesn’t apply if defendant is county or city
judicial powers / state sovereign immunity
state sovereign immunity - can you seek money damages from individual state officers?
11th
individual state officers are NOT protected under 11th
can sue them in their personal capacity
judicial powers / state sovereign immunity
when can Cg abrogate state sovereign immunity to enforce certain individual rights?
11th
- Cg intent must be clear
- must be exercising power under Civil War Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th)
- can’t abrogate state immunity by exercising power under Art I
abrogate = repeal
judicial powers / state sovereign immunity
can federal govt bring suits against states?
yes b/c the state’s consent is implied by the state ratifying the US Cons
judicial powers / state sovereign immunity
what type of actions are allowed under the implied consent of states?
- actions brought by other state govt
- bankruptcy proceedings that impact state finance
- federally approved condemnation proceedings brought by private parties
- actions by private parties against a state pursuant to a federal statute enacted pursuant to Cg’s war and defense powers
SCOTUS
what is needed for SCOTUS to review a case? what type of cases can it review?
- writ of certiorari
- docket is discretionary
- 4 justices must agree to grant cert
- Cg can create exceptions under Art II on SCOTUS’s appellate jurisdiction
- can’t hear cases from a state court when there are adequate and independent state grounds for deciding the case
- disputes b/t states
SCOTUS / AISG
what does it mean that SCOTUS can’t hear cases from a state court when there are adequate and independent state grounds (AISG) for deciding the case? (when is this relevant)
AIGS is only relevant if the case
1. is in SCOTUS
2. arises through a writ of cert AND
3. has already been decided by a state court
SCOTUS / AISG
what is required for (1) adequate and (2) independent?
- adequate - state law controls the decision regardless of how federal issue would be decided
- independent - state court’s ruling does NOT depend on an interpretation of federal law
US Cons sets floor not ceiling for idv rights and states can create additional rights
ex. if state’s law follows federal law (they’re identical) then it’s not independent
justiciability
what does it mean for a case to be justiciable?
only if it subject to trial in court
justiciability
what are the categories of justiciability?
- standing to sue - who
- timeliness doctrines (ripe + moot) - when
- political questions doctrine - what
- abstention doctrines - what
tip
fact pattern with a plaintiff who claims that a state’s law is invalid under Commerce Clause –> what should I analyze?
- Dormant Commerce Clause
- whether state has exceeded its powers by passing a law that negatively impacts interstate commerce
justiciability / standing
general rule for standing to sue
case or controversy requires (1) two sides whose interests are opposed + (2) each side must be at risk of being harmed in a significant way if it were to lose
justiciability / standing
constitutional elements to standing
- injury in fact
must be concrete (actual or imminent)
must be particularized - causation
injury must be caused by D’s violation of law - redressibility
relief requested must be able to prevent or remedy the injury
justiciability / standing
taxpayer standing
have standing to challenge their own tax assessment
no taxpayer has standing to challenge governmental expenditures
(narrow exception for govt expenditures that potentially violate Establishment Clause)
justiciability / standing
organizational standing - organization may sue on behalf of its members
IF
1. members would have standing to sue in their own right AND
2. interests at stake are germane to organization’s purpose
justiciability / standing
legislative standing
- legislators lack standing to challenge laws they voted against
- legislature may have institutional standing if claim has something to do with its institutional functions
justiciability / standing
3p standing
- generally not permitted unless unique relationship
- doctor can raise injuries of her patients
- school / students
- bartender / customer
- parent / minor child
justiciability / standing
what is standing about?
WHO can bring a lawsuit, not about the merits of the claim
justiciability / timeliness doctrines
what are the two timeliness doctrines? (list)
- ripeness - too early
- mootness - too late
justiciability / timeliness doctrines
ripeness
federal court will not consider a claim before it has fully developed
justiciability / timeliness doctrines
mootness
cases are overripe where there is no real controversy left to resolve b/t the parties
justiciability / timeliness doctrines
at what stage are ripeness and mootness relevant?
each stage of review, not just when complaint is filed
justiciability / timeliness doctrines
mootness - what is the major exception
capable of repetition yet evading review
case will not be dismissed as moot IF
* person will be subjected to the same action over and over again AND
* action will not last long enough to work its way through the judicial system
ex. abortion litigation
justiciability / political question doctrine
when does a political question arise?
- Constitution assigns decision making authority on this subject to a different branch of govt OR
- matter depends on that person’s discretion such that there is no law for judge to apply
ex. how Cg uses its impeachment power, POTUS’s power to negotiate a treaty
political questions are non-justiciable (cts can’t hear it)
justiciability / abstention doctrines
what are abstention doctrines? (definition + list types)
- focus on federalism (respecting state courts)
- federal courts may abstain from deciding claims when there are strong state interests at stake
- unsettled law
- pending criminal case
- complex state regulatory scheme
- simultaneous similar state/federal cases
justiciability / abstention doctrines
Pullman abstention
may abstain b/c there is unsettled state law
justiciability / abstention doctrines
Younger abstention
may abstain for pending state criminal cases (unless obviously unconstitutional)
justiciability / abstention doctrines
Burford abstention
may abstain if parties are seeking injunctive relief that would interfere with a complex state regulatory scheme
justiciability / abstention doctrines
Colorado River abstention
may abstain if case is substantially similar to another case being heard in state court
Cg
Necessary and Proper Clause - how must it be used?
NOT a freestanding power
must be used in addition to another legislative power
Cg / Commerce Clause
Commerce Clause (general defintion)
Cg can regulate commerce
- channels of interstate commerce
- instrumentalities of interstate commerce
- any behavior that has a substantial effect on interstate commerce (can be aggregated)
Cg only needs a rational basis to conclude that the total incidence of the activity substantially affects interstate commerce
most robust power
if behavior is economic in nature, presumed to have substantial effect on interstate commerce
Cg / Commerce Clause
limitations on Commerce Clause power
- limited power to regulate noneconomic local activity (can’t be aggregated + requires detailed factual findings)
- can’t require individuals to engage in commerce
Cg / Taxing Clause
Taxing Clause
- Cg can tax and spend
- Cg can impose taxes even if it regulates behavior (ex. cigarettes)
- taxes need to be rationally related to raising money
- taxes can be imposed for any purpose
Cg
main sources of Cg power
- Commerce Clause
- Taxing Clause
- Spending Clause
- Section 5 Power (Civil War Amendments)
Cg / Spending Clause
what can Cg do under Spending Clause?
- permitted to spend for the general welfare (any public purpose)
- can be used to incentivize behavior by the states by imposing conditions on federal funding
Cg / Spending Clause
what can Cg NOT do under Spending Clause?
- impose unconstitutional conditions
- enforce conditions that are ambiguous or not related to the program
- coerce state behavior with its spending conditions
Cg / Civil War Amendments
what did the Civil War Amendments do?
- set out important individual rights
- enabled Cg to enforce them (Section 5 power)
Cg / Civil War Amendments
13th Amend
- gave Cg authority to pass laws rationally related to ending the badges or incidents of slavery
- allows Cg to regulate public + private action
Cg / Civil War Amendments
14th Amend
- Equal Protection Clause
- Due Process Clause
- Section 5 gave Cg power to enforce these provisions by appropriate legislation
- Cg can enforce these individual rights as courts have defined them, but cannot expand them
- congruence and proportionality test requires a reasonable fit b/t conditional right defined by the court + means of enforcement
tip
Religious Freedom Restoration Act fact pattern
Cg Act gave religious believers an accommodation from otherwise valid laws
SCOTUS said unconstitutional b/c Cg was creating a new right (not just enforcing an existing right)
Cg / Civil War Amendments
15th Amend
- prohibits state + local govt from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race
- right to have the vote meaningfully counted
Cg
list other Cg powers
- power to declare war, raise an army and navy, regulate armed forces
- exclusive power to establish post office
- plenary power over noncitizens
- exclusive power over naturalization process
- federal elections
- any legislation necessary and proper to execute an enumerated power (not freestanding power)
tip
executive order that “enforces the law” but conflicts with a statute
violation of Article II
POTUS / domestic affairs
Pardon Power
- forgive crimes for federal offenses
- does not apply to impeachment
POTUS / domestic affairs
Veto Power
- doesn’t need to give reason for veto
- can’t do line item veto
- Cg may override with 2/3 vote in each house
POTUS / domestic affairs
Appointments Power - Appointment + Removal
- appoint all principal officers with Senate confirmation –> federal employees who exercise significant authority
- inferior officers can be appointed by department head, POTUS alone, or court of law if Cg chooses
- Cg creates offices not officers
- can remove federal officers (principal officers)
- Cg can create independent agencies (head can’t be fired by POTUS)
POTUS / foreign affairs
Commander in Chief Power
- commander in chief of military
- but Cg declares war
POTUS / foreign affairs
Chief Diplomat Power
- negotiates treaties
- treaties must be ratified by 2/3 vote Senate to have force of law like a federal statute
- treaty can’t conflict with Cons
- can negotiate executive agreements (no Senate approval, not law, don’t bind next president)
separation of powers
impeachment
- HOR alone impeaches by majority vote
- S alone convicts by 2/3 vote
- if POTUS on trial, Chief Justice presides
consequences - removal from office, disqualification from future office, no criminal penalties
separation of powers
impoundment
- Cg may pass a statute and give POTUS discretion to withhold the funds
- if statute requires that certain funds be spent on certain purposes, POTUS has no discretion to withhold the money
- only SOP issue if POTUS impounds the money and Cg mandated funds be allocated
impoundment = withholding money (not spending it)
separation of powers
Legislative Veto
Cg can’t reserve the right to veto legislation
separation of powers
Nondelegation Doctrine
Cg is allowed to delegate powers to administrative agencies, but must provide an intelligible principle to guide agency decisions
separation of powers / immunities and privileges
executive immunity
POTUS is immune from ciivl liability for official acts
BUT NOT
acts done in private capacity
or before becoming president
separation of powers / immunities and privileges
judicial immunity
immune for all judicial acts
may be liable for non-judicial acts (like employment discrimination)
separation of powers / immunities and privileges
legislative immunity
- Speech and Debate Clause protects federal legislators from liability for anything said in regular legislative process
- protected statements can’t be used as evidence against the legislator
- may extend to aids
separation of powers / immunities and privileges
executive privilege
certain confidential info can be privileged
POTUS can withhold it from cts or Cg
privilege can be outweighed by a demonstrated need (like ongoing criminal prosecution)
federalism
what is federalism?
two spheres of govt sharing power over same polity and jurisdiction
federalism
categories of federalism
- neither state nor fed govt can act
- fed govt has exclusive power to act
- state has exclusive power to act - anything outside of Cg’s enumerated powers through 10th
- state + fed govt have concurrent jurisdiction - Supremacy Clause
federalism / Supremacy Clause
Supremacy Clause
federal law > conflicting state law
can run concurrently if state law doesn’t conflict
tip
state + fed govt have concurrent jurisdiction to regulate something, what should I apply?
Supremacy Clause!
federalism / Supremacy Clause
state regulation of federal govt
states cannot pass a law to regulate the federal govt unless Cg permits it
Cg is immune from direct regulation by states
federalism / Supremacy Clause
state taxation of federal govt
states cannot directly tax federal govt
states can tax income of federal employees
states cannot shield state officers from federal liability for violating federal constitutional rights
federalism / Supremacy Clause
federal taxation of states
federal govt may tax a state
federalism / Supremacy Clause
federal regulation of states
states are not immune from direct federal regulation
BUT fed govt can’t commandeer a state govt to enact or enforce a federal regulatory program
federalism / Dormant Commerce Clause
Dormant Commerce Clause
- limits power of states to legislate in ways that impact interstate commerce
- arises when (1) states are acting in ways that disadvantage each other + (2) Cg is silent
If Cg has not enacted legislation on a particular area of interstate commerce, then states can regulate as long as they do not
1. discriminate against out of state commerce
2. unduly burden interstate commerce OR
3. purposely regulate wholly out of state activity
DUP
tip
does Dormant Commerce Clause apply if Cg has passed a law?
nope, dormant = Cg is silent
federalism / Dormant Commerce Clause
what does it mean to “discriminate against out of state commerce”?
includes state or local laws that protect local economic interests at expense of out of state competitors
exceptions (discriminatory state law will survive):
- necessary to serve an important state interest
- state is acting as a market participant (buying or selling stuff)
- Cg authorizes a state regulation of commerce (no longer dormant)
federalism / Dormant Commerce Clause
what does it mean to “unduly burden interstate commerce”?
may violate Dormant Commerce Clause IF burdens imposed on interstate commerce cleary outweigh local benefits
federalism / state taxation of interstate commerce
when can a state tax interstate commerce?
only if
1. Cg is silent
2. tax does not discriminate against or unduly burden interstate commerce
3. substantial nexus b/t taxing state and property/activity to be taxed AND
4. fair apportionment of tax liability among states
federalism / state taxation of interstate commerce
ad valorem property taxes
- based on real or personal property, often at a particular time of year (like April 15)
- states can tax movable commodities that are within their borders on a specific date
- BUT state may not levy an ad valorem tax on goods that are merely in transit b/t states
- may tax instrumentalities of commerce if instrumentality has a taxable situs or sufficient contacts w/in taxing state
federalism / federal preemption
express preemption
- applies when Cg explicitly says that state regulation in an area is preempted by federal law
- not triggered by merely regulating the same activity
federalism / federal preemption
conflict preemption
applies when it is impossible to comply with federal law + state law at same time
federalism / federal preemption
field preemption
applies when federal regulation is so thick that we imply that Cg has determined there cannot be a concurrent state law in an area
ex. immigration
federalism / federal preemption
types of federal preemption
- express preemption
- conflict preemption
- field preemption
federalism / interstate relationships
interstate compact clause
allows states to enter into agreements with each other when Cg consents
generally consent is only required for compacts that alter power balance b/t states + fed govt
federalism / interstate relationships
Full Faith and Credit Clause
requires full faith and credit shall be given in each state to public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
state must honor judgments that are final + came from court with proper jurisdiction + on the merits (not procedural issue)
tip
state is ignoring a state court judgment from another state, what should I apply?
Full Faith and Credit Clause!
state action
what type of wrongful action does Cons protect against?
Cons protects against wrongful conduct by govt, but not private parties (except 13th)
state action
types of state action
- might be obvi
- private actor carrying out a traditional govt function - state action
merely providing a product/service that govt could offer is not sufficient (ex. schools) - state entanglement of private actors - if sufficient mutually beneficial contacts b/t conduct of private party + state
just having a license isn’t enough, looking for a joint venture - state facilitation or endorsement of a private action (must be affirmatively facilitated)
this is prerequisite to finding a Cons violation
procedural due process
amendment for procedural due process for federal govt
5th
procedural due process
amendment for procedural due process for states
14th
tip
how to answer procedural due process questions
- is the threatened interest a protected one?
- if so, what process is due?
this is all about what process govt must give you NOT whether govt can take that interest away from you
procedural due process
what is procedural due process?
govt must follow certain procedures before taking your life, liberty, or property
applies in quasi-judicial or adjudicatory settings
procedural due process / protected interests
life
imposition of death penalty requires procedural DP
procedural due process / protected interests
liberty
physical confinement requires procedural DP
any restriction of fundamental rights is a deprivation of liberty
damage to your reputation doesn’t count
procedural due process / protected interests
property
cognizable property interest requires a legitimate claim of entitlement to the property interest by virtue of a statue, contract, or custom
procedural due process / protected interests
is it a property interest if it’s from your own belief?
nope, needs to be from an external source –> statue, contract, custom
procedural due process / protected interests
property in employment context - is the expectation of employment enough?
- mere expectation of employment or benefit is not enough
- if someone can only be fired for cause, then they have a legitimate entitlement to continued employment
procedural due process / protected interests
deprivation of protected interests - what happens?
deprivation of an interest requires intentionality
accident or negligence by state employee is not sufficient
notice + hearing are NOT required when there is an accidental taking
procedural due process / process due
factors court will weight to decide what process is due (Mathews v. Eldridge)
- individual interest at stake
- value of procedure that is protecting the interest AND
- government’s interest in efficiency (cost to provide the process)
procedural due process / process due
what type of processes are possible
hearing
notice
statement of reasons
procedural due process / process due
in general, what is a person whose interest is being deprived entitled to?
- notice of Govt’s action by unbiased decision maker +
- oppy to be heard
notice must be reasonably calculated