Main Flashcards
main elements of legal system
- structure (machine)
- substance (what machine does)
- culture (operator)
Machine allegory
structure (element of legal system)
the durable framework that gives shape and definition to the whole system
- constantly changing (diff parts at diff speeds)
- separation of powers: leg, exec, judicial
- federalism: fed/state
structure examples (element of legal system)
ex: number of courts and what jurisdictions
- Texas x2 sup cts of last resort: Supreme Court for civil/juvenile and Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal cases
- U.S. Supreme Court has 9 justices
ex: Legislature: House (435) and Senate (100)
ex: Executive: Pres, VP, Cabinet, Agencies, Boards, Committees, Commissions
substance (element of legal system)
aka the law, including the “living law”
- rules, norms, and behaviors of people inside the legal system
- manufactured by ppl w/in legal system
(ex: 35 mph on Hillcrest Road, taking other’s property is theft, FDA medicine packages rules, FDA expiration dates)
culture (element of legal system)
people’s attitudes–including beliefs, values, ideas, and expectations–toward the law and legal system
- gets the legal process going
- diverse: subcultures w/in culture (insiders-outsiders, white-black, young-old, Catholic-Jew, rich-poor, etc.)
(ex: being litigious; avoiding divorce, distrusting police)
legal culture of insiders
important sub-culture w/in legal system
judges, lawyers, those who work inside the legal system are insiders, so their values/attitudes make a big difference on the system
U.S. Constitution Right to Vote
Art I s1: leg pwrs vested in Congress (House/Senate)
s2: House - reps (directly chosen by people of states every 2y) and reps apportioned by state pop (aka vote weighting)
s3: x2 senators/state each get 1 vote chosen by state legislature (17A ppl directly vote Srs)
Art2.s1: exec pwr in president Electoral College (apptd via state leg) vote for president
Shortcomings of
U.S. Const Right to Vote
- VERY LIMITED PARTICIPATION
- very restrained re R to vote
- restrain the unruly masses
- “sliver” of a right even further diminished at different times (non-property owners, black, women, <21y, native am, or by states)
- amendments broadened participation level (gender, race, 18y, ~poll taxes)
- does NOT address gerrymandering (except race 14A EPC)
Amendments to U.S. Constitution that broadened participation re Right to Vote
14A/15A - equal protection and right to vote regarding race 17A - ppl direct vote for Senators 19A - gender 24A - poor (no poll tax) 26A - age (lowered to 18y+)
categories to consider re
State vs. U.S. Constitution
- text
- process
- substance
- direct democracy
State vs. U.S. Constitution: TEXT
state - substantially longer, statutory details, borrowing among states
(ex: TX = 90k words; U.S. = 4.5k)
State vs. U.S. Constitution: PROCESS
state - amended frequently, much easier to do
US - amended less frequently and much more difficult
(ex: TX = 507A and counting; US = 27A)
Amending the U.S. Constitution
proposed by 2/3 vote of both houses OR
proposed by 2/3 states in convention called
THEN
ratified by 3/4 state legislatures OR
ratified by 3/4 convention called in each state
State vs. U.S. Constitution: SUBSTANCE
BOTH provide citizens with rights
BOTH give structure to government
State - grants rights in the affirmative
(ex: TX: “All free men have equal rights . . .” )
U.S. - grants rights in the negative
(ex: “no state shall deprive any citizen . . .” )
State Constitutions vs. U.S. Constitution - DIRECT DEMOCRACY
state - efforts of DD via referendums and propositions to allow electorate to be directly involved in lawmaking process
U.S. - very limited participation (ex: direct votes for the Reps and Senators that will vote on the laws . . . not directly involved in lawmaking)
Federal Law vs. State Law CONFLICT
- well settled that federal law usually > state law
- tricky to determine whether there actually is a conflict
- pre-emption question (express vs. implied)
- implied includes: occupied the field or “by conflict”
- impossible to comply w/both –> federal
- state law obstacle in accomplishing congress purpose –> federal
- Bokis v. AMS «< ADD MORE
Bokis v. AMS
pre-emption
Legislative Process: Enacting a Statute
- Rep sponsors a bill
- bill assigned to committee for study
- (if released) calendar for floor discussion
- (if simple majority) bill moves to other H/S
- bill assigned to committee
- (if released) vote/debate
- (changes) return to H/S for concurrence
- final returns to H&S for final approval
- President 10d to veto or sign
Legislative Process: Enacting a Statute
- system is designed to make lawmaking difficult and force deliberations, accommodations, etc.
- need to get through the VETOGATES