Constitutional Law Final Flashcards
Equal Protection is by its very nature ___________.
Comparative
What does comparative mean?
The world can be divided into at least 2 groups
Question is “Can gov’t treat the two groups differently?”
Two ways the Government can treat two groups differently
- RIGHTS - Group A gets to exercise a fundamental right and Group B does not.
- MEMBERSHIP IN A GROUP - Maybe the 2 groups are divided based upon characteristics of the 2 groups
- race
- sex
- ethnicity
- national origin
- alienage
- etc.
What makes up an Equal Protection claim?
- Government as the actor.
- Took an intentional action
- inadvertent actions don’t trigger a due process or equal protection claim - Which Constitutional Amendment?
- Feds - 5th Amendment through due process
- State - 14th Amendment Section 1 - How is the world divided?
- government has intentionally made a decision to treat 2 groups differently
- Goal is X, Group doesn’t get X, Government shouldn’t be allowed.
Two Levels of Review
- Rational
2. Heightened Scrutiny
Two subsets of heightened scrutiny
- Intermediate Scrutiny
2. Strict Scrutiny
Intermediate Scrutiny
Exceedingly Persuasive Justification:
- Important Interest
- Substantial Relationship to achievements to that purpose.
**Basically only for gender, illegitimacy, or alienage with respect to compulsory schooling.
Strict Scrutiny
- Classifications based upon fundamental right, race or ethnicity.
- Suspect Class
- DISCRETE - people are identifiable
- INSULAR - unable to protect themselves through the political process.
COMPELLING INTEREST and NARROWLY TAILORED
**Cannot be post-hoc
How to make a statutory claims?
Show disparate impact
Look at impact vs. intent
As applied not facially challenge.
Equal Protection: Why is the world divided?
- Identify the government’s interest
- If the government is going to divided the world, the government must have a reason.
- Look at the face of the statute at issue, as well as it is applied, to help determine why the world has been divided
Fact Pattern Analysis
- First, identify the division.
- what are the groups? Describe them (can be 1 person)
- Second, argue that the two groups should not be treated differently.
- no Constitutionally appropriate reason to differentiate
- Show that the two groups are similarly situated
- Is there a way to increase the level of scrutiny?
- Triggers to for higher scrutiny
- Fundamental Right
- Suspect Class
- Quasi-suspect class
- If no trigger, the measure is reviewed under rational basis
- This is a very low standard, so the government will usually win.
- Triggers to for higher scrutiny
Discrimination
Issue: Is that a difference that government is empowered to recognize?
- Government Actor
- Intentional Act
- Feds - 5th , State - 14th
**People are different and government should not be prohibited from recognizing and taking those differences into account.
Two Types of Discrimination
- On its face
2. As applied
Discrimination “On its face”
“We won’t do this based on race, ethnicity, or national origin”
Examples:
1. Preventing a race from being a jury member
Discrimination “As Applied”
“We won’t do this because of a certain issue, but as applied may still be discrimination”
Discrimination by Race
Strict Scrutiny
All legal restrictions which curtail the civil rights of a single racial group are immediately suspect.
Way to get around compelling interest and narrowly tailored?
Prove Invidious Discrimination (Unfairly Discriminating)
Invidious Discrimination
Will be completely irrelevant to any legitimate government objective
Immutable
Involuntary
Intentional and Unjustified Discrimination
Way to get around Strict Scrutiny?
Pressing public necessity MAY justify the existence of such discrimination.
-time of war
Still needs to be compelling and narrowly tailored.
Discrimination K-12 Education
Strict Scrutiny
No separate but equal
Charges the States with “all deliberate speed” to adjust
Only State Action because you don’t have a fundamental right to education.
Discrimination by Reverse Discrimination/Affirmative Action
Strict Scrutiny
Characteristics that help to determine discrimination and the respective levels or review
- Involuntary (no choice)
- Immutable (cannot be changed)
- Potentially Irrelevant (not essential to Government objective - doesn’t further legit shit)
Over/ Under Inclusive in terms of Heightened Scrutiny
Degree of precision effects level of scrutiny;
Over: too many individuals that are not similarly situation. (higher scrutiny)
Under: too few individuals that are similarly situated.
Discrimination by Gender
Intermediate Scrutiny
There are physical difference between men and women.
Its involuntary, may or may not be immutable.
Quasi-Suspect Class
Quasi-Suspect Classes
- Gender
- Illegitimacy
- Alienage with K-12 students