I. Test-Taking Tips:
a. Approach:
i. Who is passing the law?
ii. What is the subject matter of the law?
iii. Match the appropriate power to the subject matter.
b. Generally Wrong Answers:
i. General welfare clause
1. Unless dealing with the taxing and spending power
ii. Necessary and Proper...
I. Test-Taking Tips:
a. Approach:
i. Who is passing the law?
ii. What is the subject matter of the law?
iii. Match the appropriate power to the subject matter.
b. Generally Wrong Answers:
i. General welfare clause
1. Unless dealing with the taxing and spending power
ii. Necessary and Proper clause
1. Not a stand-alone power
2. Unless carrying into effect other enumerated powers
iii. Federal police power
1. Unless dealing with US territories or DC
iv. Enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment
v. Contract clause
vi. Privileges and Immunities clause of 14th Amendment
vii. 10th amendment answers regarding integral US functions
1. Exception: congress cannot commandeer states to enact or enforce a
federal regulation
viii. State winning under strict scrutiny
ix. Individual winning under rational basis
II. Federal Judicial Review:
a. Standing
i. Concrete personal stake in outcome.
ii. Constitutional standard:
1. Injury in fact (generally economic)
2. Causation (relief sought must eliminate the harm – redressability)
b. “Case or Controversy” requirement
i. An actual and definite dispute must exist between parties with adverse legal
interests
III. Separation of Powers:
a. Legislative:
i. Commerce Power:
1. Congress’s broad power to regulate interstate commerce includes the
power to control production of items having a substantial impact on such
commerce
a. “National economic significance”
2. Power to regulate foreign commerce lies exclusively with congress
a. Congress may delegate this power to POTUS
ii. Spending Power:
1. Congress can spend federal monies for the general welfare, provided the
spending is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental interest
, a. Limited by judicial review
2. Congress may spend for any public purpose and may require entities that
accept government money to act in a certain manner
a. Government may attach any reasonable conditions to the
expenditure it desires
iii. Property Power:
1. Congress has the power to dispose of and make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the US.
2. Applies to:
a. Wild animals on federal property;
b. Military ships and airplanes;
c. Federal buildings and enclaves; and
d. Indian reserves
iv. Delegation and Assignment of Legislative Power:
1. Congress has broad discretion to delegate its legislative power to
executive officers or administrative agencies
2. Delegations of legislative power to executive branch of government are
virtually always upheld.
3. There must be some standards to guide the exercise of discretion, but
they are minimal
v. No Federal Police Power:
1. Congress lacks police power
a. Exception: congress can exercise police-type powers pursuant to
its authority to legislative over the capital and US territories
b. Executive:
i. Commander in Chief
1. Broad discretion to use US troops in foreign countries
2. Never in US history has POTUS use of US troops in foreign countries
been declared unconstitutional
3. Does not matter if congress is in session
IV. Federalism:
a. Supremacy Clause:
i. “Supersession” – federal law will supersede any state law that is in direct conflict
with it
b. State Police Power:
i. States granted the power to regulate behavior and enforce order within their
territory for the betterment of the general welfare, morals, health, and safety of
their inhabitants.
c. Dormant Commerce Clause:
i. State regulation of interstate commerce must be:
1. Nondiscriminatory
2. Not unduly burdensome on interstate commerce
ii. Balancing Test:
1. State interest in regulation and burden on interstate commerce
, d. 11th Amendment:
i. State cannot be sued in federal court either by its own citizens or citizens of other
states without consent of the state
1. Exceptions:
a. Federal officials [sue for personal monetary damages or
injunction]
b. State suing another state, or US suing the state
c. Congress can waive immunity under enforcement clause of the
14th Amendment
i. Usually for:
1. Civil rights violations; or
2. Fundamental rights violations
e. Contract Clause
i. States prohibited from retroactively impairing obligation of existing public or
private contracts, unless a significant governmental interest exists.
1. States violate this prohibition when it substantially impairs any contract
to which it is a party and the impairment does not meet the various
exceptions recognized by the court.
a. Seeking to reduce contractual financial obligations would violate
the prohibition.
f. Criminal Statutes:
i. State may punish through the criminal code whatever behavior it wishes,
provided it does not violate federal law.
V. Protection of Individual Rights: 14th Amendment
a. Strict Scrutiny: Burden on the state to show that the law is necessary to serve a
compelling state interest.
1. “Necessary” means no less restrictive means available
2. Government almost always loses!
i. Fundamental Rights:
1. Protected Rights:
a. Protected 1st Amendment rights
b. Right to vote
c. Right to travel
d. Right to privacy:
i. “CAMPER”
1. Contraception
2. Abortion (undue burden)
3. Marriage
4. Procreation
5. Education (private, not public!)
6. Relations (to live together, to refuse medical
treatment, etc…)
ii. Suspect Classes: “RAN”
1. Race
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