justicibility Flashcards
R.A.M.P.S.
Ripeness Advisory Opinions Mootness Political Questions Standing
case and controversy requirement
requires actual and definite dispute
between parties with
adverse legal interests.
Standing
concrete personal stake in outcome.
Injury-in-Fact
Causation
Redressibility - will the relief sought remedy the harm
Advisory Opinions
Constitution forbids issuing advisory opinions on constitutionality of legislative or executive actions that do not grow out of a case or controversy.
constitutional requirements for
alleged injury
to have standing
distinct and palpable
not abstract, conjectural, or hypothetical
fairly traceable to the challenged action
relief likely to follow from a favorable decision.
political question examples
foreign relations, guarantee clause, impeachment, termination of hostilities, gerrymandering...
Essay Statement on Federal Jurisdiction
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.
Two types of Federal Jurisdiction
Law based Federal Jurisdiction - cases arising out of the constitution, federal law and admiralty and maritime law
and
Party based federal jurisdiction US govt is a party State v State State V other States citizens Citizens from different states with $75k in controversy Foreign diplomats.
11th Amendment Prohibition - General
individuals can’t sue states for money damages in state or federal court
Exceptions to 11th Amendment prohibition
- states and fed gov can sue each other
- cities and counties not covered.
- injunctive relief available
- Waiver - clearly, expressly, and unequivocally.
- Enforcement powers - overcome state sovereign using powers to enforce the 13, 14, or 15th amendment
Essay statement - Enforcement Powers
Congress can overcome state sovereign immunity when using its enforcement powers.
Standing to sue in Federal Court
Injury in Fact - actual or imminent injury
Causation - Conduct must have caused P’s injury
Redressability - Litigation must be able to address P’s injury
Standing and 3rd Parties
- Special Relationship - interests connected to 3rd Parties Constitutional Rights
- Incapacity - party unable or discouraged from bringing suit on own behalf
3 Prong Test for an Organization to have standing on behalf of members
- Member Standing - members have standing to bring action? injury,causation,Redressability.
- Purpose of Association - organizations purpose related to interests asserted in the suit?
- Member participation not required - members all have same claim and remedy applies to all?
* Where the purpose of the organization is to protect the constitution generally this is probably a trap*
Ripeness - Defined
If no injury, the court is issuing an advisory opinion
federal courts do not issue advisory opinions.
Mootness
Where the suit is too late for a federal decision to do anything.
There is no redressability.
If court cannot redress issue then it is an advisory opinion.
Federal courts do not issue advisory opinions
Except: CORYER
Capable of repetition yet evading review.
When the answer is “Ripeness” or “Mootness” the question is most likely…
declaratory judgement
Political Question - defined
matters assigned to other branch of the constitution
or incapable of a judicial answer.
2 most important factors determining whether the political question doctrine applies.
- Textual commitment - text of constitution leaves decision to another branch of government.
- No standards - question political not legal in character
court cant’d develop standards for lower courts to apply.
Foreign affairs is a frequently tested political question topic.
Abstention - When will court abstain
- state law is unclear and state court has not interpreted the meaning.
- state proceeding is ongoing and when party goes to federal court.
Adequate and Independent State Grounds
no cases from a state court of last resort
if state courts decision is supported on state law grounds.
These grounds only apply to the Supreme Court
EXCEPTION - STATE FOLLOWS FED
Where state constitutional provision is the same as the fed,
state court interprets it as the same,
not sufficient, adequate, independent state law ground.
Congress Power over the Courts
Can do what it likes with lower courts.
Cannot prohibit USSC from hearing cases based on federal law.
Cannot take case from appellate category and put in original jurisdiction
Jurisdiction of the USSC
Original jurisdiction.
Foreign diplomats and states
Appellate jurisdiction - federal law or constitution are at issue.
Legislative Power
Congress has the powers given to it and no others.
Federal laws based in power given to congress by constitution
and must not violate or conflict with a constitutional right.
State laws must not conflict with a constitutional right.
Federal Police Power or Promote the General Welfare
Powers do not exist in the federal government
Except the District of Columbia or some other federal territory
3 Sources of Power for Congress to Legislate
- Enumerated Powers - commerce and taxing and spending.
- Enabling Clauses of the 13th 14th and 15th amendment
- Necessary and Proper Clause - choice of means.
Always used in conjunction with another power (by itself will usually be a wrong answer)