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11th Amendment and Sovereign Immunity
Cannot sue state for $ damages in either state or federal court unless exception
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Exceptions to sue State in for $ damages in state or federal court
- 1. State explicitly consents
- 2. Congress expressly says so to protect 14th Amend Rights
- 3. Fed govt may sue state govt
- 4. BK proceedings
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SCOTUS original JX
Article III, Section 2
- Over controversies between states
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SCOTUS Appellate JX
Article III, Section 2
- - Writ of Certiorari (court has full discretion)
- - Meet final judgment rule
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Final Judgement Rule
- SCOTUS generally only hears cases after final judgment by:
- 1. Highest state court
- 2. U.S. Court of Appeals
- 3. Three-judge federal district court
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AISG - Cases that rest on Adequate and Independent State Grounds
SCOTUS can review a state court judgment only if it turned on federal grounds . The court has no JX if the judgment below rested on an adequate and independent state ground.
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What constitutes adequate state grounds?
State ground must control the decision no matter how a fed issue is decided - Fed rights claimant wins anyway under state law.
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What constitutes Independent state grounds?
State law does not follow or depend on an interp of fed law. - No AISG is state law adopts or follows fed law.
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Suits against state officers
- State officers can be sued for
- - injunctions
- - money damages paid from their own pockets
BUT CANNOT sue if state treasury will be paying retroactive damages
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Justiciability Doctrine Requirements
- 1. Standing
- 2. Ripeness
- 3. Mootness
- 4. Political Question Doctrine
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Standing
Is the P a proper party for the case.
- Elements
- 1. Injury
- 2. Causation
- 3. Redressability
- - No 3rd party standing unless exceptions
- - No generalized grievances
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Injury Element for standing
- Must be personally suffered by P
- - Economic injury is golden for standing
- - If seeking injunctive/declaratory relief, P must show likelihood of future personal harm
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Exceptions to 3rd Party Standing
- 1. Close relationship btwn P and injured 3d party
- (E.g. Doctor may raise claim on behalf of patients)
2. 3d party unlikely to be able to assert his own rights
3. Organizations may sue on behalf of their members
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Organization standing for members Elements
Organizations may sue on behalf of their members if:
1. Members have standing individually
2. Interests are germane to org’s purpose
3. Neither claim nor relief requires participation of individual members
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Taxpayer Standing
Taxpayers may challenge expenditures pursuant to statutes that violate the Establishment Clause
Although no taxpayer standing to challenge gov’t giving surplus property or general executive revenue to religious organizations
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Ripeness Requirement for Justiciability
Rule: You must show actual harm or an immediate threat of harm
- Test:
- 1. Hardship suffered by P w/o enforcement review
- 2. Fitness of the issues and record for judicial review (only issues of law remain)
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Mootness Requirement of Justiciability
Rule: Moot cases are overripe and dismissed
- Exceptions:
- 1. Controversies capable of repetition, yet evading review, are not moot
2. Voluntary cessation - if P can show D will repeat wrong
3. Class action suits
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Political Question Doctrine (Justiciability)
Rule: Political Qs are non-justiciable - cts will not decide bc no manageable standards for judicial decision-making
1. Guarantee Clause (Art IV) protecting the republican form of govt
2. Foreign affairs
3. Impeachment procedures
4. Political gerrymandering
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Congress Authority to Act
Must be express or implied congressional power (no general police power)
Must be Necessary and Proper (Nec and Proper Clause)
On MBE, Q will ask for strongest arg in favor of congressional power for passing a statute: NEVER = gen welfare, gen police power, or nec and proper on its own.
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Commerce Power
Cong can regulate the channels and instrumentalities of interstate commerce, and interstate activity that has a substantial effect on interstate commerce judged in the aggregate for econ activity but not non-econ.
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Tenth Amendement (Anti-Commandeering)
Rule: All powers not granted to feds are reserved for states and people
- Congress cannot compel state regulatory or legislative action BUT can induce state action via strings attached to grants (Spending power) or adopt own regulatory program and enforce with fed officers.
- - Congress may prohibit harmful commercial activity by state gov’ts
- (E.g. Congress may prohibit state DMVs from selling lists to merchants)
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Section 5 of Fourteenth Amendment
Rule: Congress may not create new rights or expand scope of rights. Congress may only act to prevent or remedy violations of rights recognized by the courts.
- Such laws must be proportionate and congruent to remedying constitutional violations.
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The Taxing Power
Rule: Tax must be rationally related to raising revenue
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The Spending Power
Cong can use the Spending Power to accomplish things it could not do by direct regulation under the Commerce Clause. Includes spending for the general welfare.
- Conditions on Grants ok if:
- 1.Conditions expressly stated
- 2. Conditions relate to purpose of spending program
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Congress Power to Enforce Civil War Amendments
- 1. 13th Amendment
- 2. 14th Amend
- 3. 15th Amend
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Thirteenth Amendment
Cong has broad power to legislate against racial discrim, whether public or private
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Fourteenth Amendment
Rule: Cong has the power to remedy violations of individual rights by the govt, but only as those rights have been defined by the court
- -To be properly remedial, legislation must have congruence and proportionality.
- (I.e.: There must be a reasonable fit btwn remedial law enacted by Cong and the const’l right as declared by SCOTUS)
- Cong does not have the power to overrule the Court’s decision and define new rights
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Fifteenth Amendment
Rule: Congress has the power to ensure no racial discrim in voting
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What are the Main Congressional Powers (CSTWE)
- 1. Commerce Power
- 2. Spending Power
- 3. Taxing Power
- 4. War and Defense Powers
- 5. Enforce Civil War Amendments
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Presidential Domestic Powers (PAV)
The Prez has the power to enforce the law, not to make or break it.
- 1. Pardon Power
- 2. Appointment and Removal of Executive Officers
- 3. Veto Power
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Presidential Pardon Power
Domestic Power
Prez can pardon or commute punishment for all fed crim offenses.
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Presidential Veto Power
Domestic Power
Prez has 10 days to veto legislation w/ or w/o reason, but no line-item veto.
Overriding veto rqrs 2/3 majority vote of each house.
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Presidential Power of Appointment and Removal of Executive Officers
Only the Prez (or his appointees) can hire or fire exec officers. Senate has the power of rejection (advice and consent - but not power of appointment).
- Executive offices = Anyone who takes action on behalf of US
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Presidential Foreign Powers
1. Commander in Chief = control over military decisions But Congress has exclusive power to declare war
2. Treaties and Exec Agreements
-
Treaties
Treaties negotiated by Prez but need 2/3 vote of Senate. (Once approved has same authority as statute)
-
Executive Agreements
Prez’l negotiations not submitted for approval by Senate.
- Can be authorized, precluded, or overridden by statute, but they take precedence over conflicting state laws.
- Not binding like statute.
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Congressional Limits on the Executive
- 1. Impeachment
- 2. Impoundment
- 3. Legislative Veto
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Impeachment
- An accusation of high crimes or misdemeanors rqring majority vote of the House (majority vote) and Trial by the Senate (2/3 vote for conviction)
- Applies to exec officers
- Remedy = Removal- no other penalty
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Impoundment
-If statue gives Prez discretion to spend or withhold funds, may do so.
- When statute unambiguously rqrs funds be spent, Prez cannot withhold. No power to impound funds.
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Legislative Veto
Unconst’l for Cong to pass law reserving to itself the right to disapprove future exec actions by simple resolution.
- If Cong wants to override future exec actions, it must change the law so prez has opp to veto new legislation.
- Cong cannot evade Prez’s guaranteed veto opp by passing a law saying that in the future it plans to govern by resolution
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Federal Immunities
- 1. President
- 2. Judges
- 3. Legislators
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Presidential Immunity
- Has absolute immunity for official acts, but not for acts prior to taking office
- Has executive privilege not to reveal confidential communications w/ presidential advisers, but privilege can be outweighed by a specifically demonstrated need in crim prosecution.
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Judge Immunity
Have absolute immunity for all judicial acts, but may be liab for non-judicial activities
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Legislator Immunity
US Senators and Reps (and their aides, but not state legislators) are protected by the Speech or Debate Clause
- Cannot be prosecuted or punished in relation to their official acts.
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Preemption (Supremacy Clause)
The Supremacy Clause of Art VI provides that the Const and laws and treaties made pursuant to it are the supreme law of the land.
- 1. Express Preemption
- 2. Implied Preemption
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Express Preemption
Under Supremacy Clause if federal law explicitly says it is exclusive, state law is preempted
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Implied Preemption
Under the Supremacy Clause if federal law and state law are mutually exclusive then state law will be preempted if
1. Impossible to comply with both simultaneously BUT States may impose stricter laws, so long as Congress doesn’t clearly prohibit
2. If state law impedes achievement of federal objective,
3. If Congress evidences clear intent to preempt state law (i.e. wholly occupy the field)
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Intergovernamental Immunity
- Fed govt gen immune from direct state regulation or taxation, but states can tax indirectly (taxing fed EEs)
- - States are not immune from direct fed regulation (pollution regs, environmental laws) State laws cannot shield state officers from fed liab
- - Exception: Anti-Commandeering Principle
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Dormant commerce clause
Rule: In the absence of fed regulation, state regulation of commerce is valid so long as:
- 1. There is no discrimination against out-of-state interests;
- - Exceptions:
- a. State as a Market Participant - buying and selling
- b. Subsidies Federal Approval - authorizes and consents to state regulation of commerce (even if discriminates)
2. The regulation does not unduly burden interstate commerce AND
3. The regulation does not apply to wholly extraterritorial activity.
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Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV - Comity Clause
-No state may deny citizens of other states the privileges and immunities it affords its own citizens
Rule: There can be no legal rqt of residency for private EM, but public EM can have residency rqts.
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Privileges or Immunities Clause of Fourteenth Amendment
Only applies to right to travel; otherwise a wrong answer
- E.g. Applies to laws discriminating against new residents of states
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When does the Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV
- Discrim against out-of-staters
- Not for corporations
-Private EM = admission to the bar or other occupational licenses
- Public EM = City hiring only city residents or rqring certain %age of city residents on construction projects
- Non-Serious discrim = recreational opps like hunting license
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If law does NOT discrim against out-of-staters
- Privileges and Immunities of Art. IV doesn’t apply
- If it burdens interstate commerce, it violates DCC if burdens exceed benefits
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If law DISCRIMINATES against out-of-staters
1. If it burdens interstate commerce, violates DCC unless law is nec’y to serve important gov’t purpose
2. If it discriminates against out-of-staters in their ability to earn their livelihood, P&I of Art. IV applies
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If Law discrim against out-of-stater's ability to earn their livelihood
P&I of Art. IV applies
- - Law must discriminate against out-of-staters
- - Discrim. must pertain to civil liberties or important economic activities (e.g. ability to earn a living)
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If law discriminates against out-of-staters and burdens interstate commerce
Violate DCC unless law is nec’y to serve important gov’t purpose
- - Protectionist purpose NEVER important
- - Okay to prohibit importation of animals to preserve natural resources
- - Necessary – no less discriminatory alternative exists
- - Exceptions:
- a. Congressional approval of state law
- b. Market participant exception
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Full Faith and Credit Clause
Judgment of court in one state must be respected/enforced/etc. by the court of another state if:
- 1. First court had jurisdiction
- 2. Judgment was on the merits
- 3. Judgment is final
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Individual Constitutional Liberties only protected if
Have GOVT Action
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Government Action
Constitution only applies to govt action, not private conduct but Cong by statute may apply const’l norms to private conduct
- 1. 13th Amend
- 2. Commerce Power
- 3. 14th Amend
- 4. Anti-Discrim Statutes
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Govt action and 13th Amend
- 13th Amendment can be used to prohibit private race discrimination
- 13th itself does NOT prohibit race discrim; only prohibits slavery But Congress can regulate race discrim. pursuant to 13th
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Congress power and Govt action
Congress power can be used to regulate private action
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Section 5 of Fourteenth Amendment
Congress cannot use section 5 of Fourteenth Amendment to regulate private behavior, only state and local gov’t
- Exceptions:
1. Situation where private conduct must comply w/Constitution
a. Public function exception – private entity performing task traditionally and exclusively done by gov’t
b. Entanglement exception – gov’t affirmatively authorizes, encourages, or facilitates unconstitutional activity.
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Application of Bill of Rights
- Applies directly only to federal gov’t
- Applies to state/local gov’ts through incorporation into due process clause of Fourteenth Amendment.
- - Exceptions:
- 1. Second Amendment right to bear arms
- 2. Third Amendment right not to have soldiers quartered in your home
- 3. Fifth Amendment right to grand jury indictment in criminal cases
- 4. Seventh Amendment right to jury trial in civil cases
- 5. Eighth Amendment right against excessive fines
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Rational Basis Test
Rule: Is the law rationally related to a legitimate int?
- Challenger has BOP
- Classification - All cases that don’t follow other tests)
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Intermediate Scrutiny Test
Rule: Is the law substantially related to an important govt int?
- Govt has BOP
- Classifications of legitimacy and gender
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Strict Scrutiny Tets
Rule: Is the law necessary for a compelling int? Least restrictive means
- Govt has BOP
- Classifications that are suspect or fundamental rights
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Procedural Process
Right to notice and hearing if deprived of life, liberty or property
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Deprivation of Liberty
- Loss of significant freedom provided by Constitution or statute
- Harm to reputation is not a deprivation of liberty (e.g. wrongful posting of photo of shoplifter did not violate procedural due process)
- Prisoners rarely have a liberty interest
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Deprivation of Property
- Deprivation of property if there is entitlement and that entitlement is not fulfilled
- Entitlement = reasonable expectation of continued receipt of a benefit
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If there is a deprivation, what procedures are required?
The test: Court will balance:
- 1. The importance of the interest to the individual
- 2. The ability of add’l procedures to decrease chance of erroneous deprivation
- 3. The government’s interests in efficiency and cost
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Pre-Deprivation hearing for
1. Termination of welfare benefits;
2. Non-emergency revocation of DL,
3. Public EM fired for cause unless significant reason not to keep EE on job.
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Post-Deprivation hearing for
So long as hearing is prompt and fair
1. Termination of SS benefits
2. Termination of disability benefits
3. Dismissing students for academic reasons
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Analysis for Equal Protection Q
1. What is the classification?
2. What level of scrutiny should be applied?
3. Does this law meet the level of scrutiny?
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How does Equal Protection apply to state and fed govt?
1. Equal Protection Clause of Fourteenth Amendment only applies to state and local gov’ts
2. Equal protection is applied to federal gov’t via Due Process Clause of Fifth Amendment
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How do we protect fundamental rights?
Substantive Due Process and Equal Protection Clause
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If a law denies a fundamental right to EVERYONE?
Violates Substantive Due Process
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If a Right Violates a Fundamental Right to ONLY SOME (classification)?
Violates Equal Protection
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For what rights do we apply Substantive Due Process?
1. Economic Rights (Takings, K Clause, Prohibited Legislation)
2. Privacy Rights
3. Fundamental Rights
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For what rights do we apply Equal Protection?
1. Suspect Classification
2. Fundamental Rights
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Violation of Economic Rights
- Substantive Due Process
- Rational Basis Test
- Takings, K Clause, Prohibited Legislation
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Takings Clause
Rule: Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
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Taking v. Regulation
1. Taking (comp) v. Regulation (no comp even if reduces value of prop)
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Adverse Economic Impact = Taking?
Adverse econ impact of govt’s actions does not nec mean there has been a taking (ie: new prison built next door to beautiful countryside home).
-
Is Physical occupation by govt a taking?
KEY Q - If the govt physically occupies a private O’s prop, then a taking has occurred and it owes just comp (even if only a tiny portion)
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If there is no physical occupation is there a taking?
No Physical occ - gen means no taking
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Are zoning regulations a taking?
Not a taking and no comp rqd so long as zoning advances legitimate ints and does not extinguish a fundamental right to ownership Regulatory taking - A zoning regulation can be considered a taking when it leaves no economically viable use for the prop (rare)
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Are Development permits a taking?
Often conditioned on “concessions” by the developer, such as building an access road or donating land to park. Such extractions valid so long as they can be seen as offsetting the adverse impact of the development.
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Privacy Rights
Right to
- 1. Marriage
- 2. Contraception
- 3. Sexual Intimacy
- 4. Abortion
- 5. Parental Rights
- 6. Family Relations
- 7. Obscene Material
- 8. Refusal of Medical treatment (but not right to commit suicide)
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Test for violation of abortion privacy rights?
Whether law imposes an undue burden on woman's right to terminate.
- - informed consent rqts - allowed
- - 24 hr waiting period - allowed
- - parental notification - allowed
- - parental consent - not allowed (narrow exception if can get consent from judge who has to give it)
- - spousal rqts - not allowed
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Equal Protection - Suspect classification subject to SS?
1. Race, Ethnicity and National Origin
2. Alienage (citizenship requirements)
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How do you show discriminatory purpose for Equal protection SS?
May be explicit on the face of the statute, or may be proved by history of discrim application, or by extrinsic evidence about the purposes of those who passed the law.
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When is Affirmative Action valid?
Rule: Affirm Action valid when it specifically corrects past discrim by the specific dept or agency now engaged in affirm action
- Gen societal discrim does not justify affirm action
- Preferential admission to colleges and universities allowed if nec to achieve diverse student body (compelling int) BUT Procedures and standards must be holistic and flexible NOT allowed for secondary schools
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Alienage under Equal Protection
Rule: States and localities cannot rqr US citizenship for access to private EM or govt benefits
- - Fed Govt exempt from Strict Scrutiny test:
- Fed govt Fed classifications based on US citizenship valid unless arbitrary and unreasonable
- Participating govt functions = Jobs that have partic relevance to the role of govt functions, including voting, serving on jury, and working in law enforcement position, or public school teacher
- Undocumented aliens - not a suspect class but cannot deny children public edu
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Quasi-Suspect Classifications under Equal Protection
- Intermediate Scrutiny
- Gender and Legitimacy
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Non-Suspect Classification under Equal Protection
- Rational Basis
- Age, wealth
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Indigent rights
Govt has to waive filing fees for indigents when charging fees would deny a fundamental right. ex - divorce; transcript for appeal of crim conviction; transcript for appeal of termination of parental rights
-
What Rights are subject to both EQP and SDP?
Fundamental Rights
- 1. Right to Travel
- 2. Voting and Ballot Access
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Freedom of Religion - Free Exercise Clause
1. Religious Belief - Absolutely protected
2. Religious Conduct - Qualifiedly protected
- Laws regulating religious conduct bc of its religious significance are unconstitutional (aimed at religion)
- Neutral regulation of conduct can be enforced despite religious objections
- No right to accommodation / exemption from neutral, generally applicable regulations of conduct (Peyote case)
- Exception: Ministerial Exception - SCOTUS held that 1st Amend rqrs a ministerial exception to EM laws - Fed govt cannot regulate EM relations btwn a religious institution and its ministers (defined broadly)
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Establishment Clause
Lemon Test
1. Does the law have a secular purpose?
2. Does the law have a primary effect that neither advances nor prohibits religion?
3. Does the law avoid excessive government entanglement with religion?
-
Endorsement as a violation of the Establishment Clause
It is a violation of the Establishment Clause for the govt to endorse one religion over another and also to endorse religion over non-religion - to prevent coercive endorsement of religion that may override indiv choice BUT, many endorsements upheld, like “In God We Trust”
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Content-Based Regulations of Speech
- - Strict Scrutiny
- - Subject matter (depends on topic) or Viewpoint (depends on ideology)
-
Content Neutral Speech restrictions
- Intermediate Scrutiny
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Test for Rules Regulating Expressive conduct (symbolic speech)
Rule: Laws regulating expressive conduct are upheld if:
- 1. They further an important interest;
- 2. That int is unrelated to the suppression of expression; and
- 3. The burden on expression is no greater than nec.
- Analysis:
- - If a govt is trying to suppress a message --> unconstitutional
- If the govt is trying to pursue an int unrelated to the suppression of the expression --> constitutional
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Prior Restraints on Speech
- Court orders suppressing speech must meet strict scrutiny
- But, if order is procedurally proper: They must be obeyed until vacated or overturned
- One who violates cannot later challenge
- - Gov’t can require license for speech only if: 1. Important reason for licensing
- 2. Clear criteria leaving almost no discretion
- 3. Procedural safeguards
- 4. Prompt determination of requests Judicial review
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Vagueness and Overbreadth
- Vagueness- Vague laws - give no clear notice of what is prohibited and thus violate due process
- Overbreadth - Overborad laws - go too far in regulating speech. Substantially burden more speech than is nec to protect a compelling int and violate 1st Amend
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Content-Neutral Speech Public Forums
Rule: Only time, place, and manner may be regulated in a public forum if meet 3 rqts:
1. Content neutral, on its face as applied (NO executive discretion)
2. Alternative Channels of communication must be left open. AND
3. Must narrowly serve a significant state int.
Under this test most time, place, or manner regulations upheld - No compelling int
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Content-Neutral Non-Public Forum
Includes any kind of govt prop that is not a public forum
- Rule: Any reasonable regulation of speech will be upheld.
- Viewpoint discrim is invalid (e.g., btwn members of diff political parties)
- Disruption of the functions of govt - One should go outside to public sidewalk
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Protection of Obscene Speech
Rule: Defined by the Rule of S
- 1. Sexy: Must be erotic; appeal to the prurient int
- 2. Society Sick: Must be patently offensive to the average person in the society.
3. Standards: Must be defined by the proper standards for determining what is obscene, not vague and/or overbroad
4. Serious Value: The material must lack serious value. Determ made in court, not the jury, and it must be based on a national standard, not a local one.
- Child Porn: Prohibited whether or not it is legally obscene, and possession can be punished even if it is in the privacy of your own home.
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Incitement Speech
Speech is not protected if it is an incitement to immediate violence
-
First Amendment protection of Fighting Words
Words likely to provoke an immediate breach of the peace
- Must be aimed/targeted at someone, and that person might hit back
- Gen vulgarity not enough
- In theory NOT protected speech, but fighting word statutes on bar exam are vague and overbroad (laws against hate speech)
-
Commercial Speech First Amendment Protections
Most regulations of commercial speech are struck down.
- So long as the advert is truthful and informational, it must be allowed.
- Test: Regulation of commercial speech must directly advance a substantial govt int and be narrowly tailored to that int.
- Misleading Speech: May be prohibited
-
Government Speech Protection
1st Amend restrictions do not apply to the govt as a speaker
- Govt as a speaker is free to express a point of view
- Govt does not have to accept all monuments donated by a private person simply bc accepts one.
-
Defamation Public Official
- - Actual Malice
- - Comp Damages , presumed / punitive
- - P must prove Falsity
-
Defamation of Public Figure
- - Actual Malice
- - Comp, presumed/ punitive
- - P must prove falsity
-
Private Figure Matter of Public Concern
- - Negligence and Actual Injury
- - Comp for actual injury;
- - Presumed or punitive for actual malice
- - P must prove falsity
-
Private Figure Matter of Private Concern
- - Unclear (Negligence)
- - Comp for actual injury;
- - presumed and punitive require actual malice
- - BOP on D to prove truth
-
Freedom of Association
1. Laws that prohibit or punish group membership must meet strict scrutiny.
2. Laws that require disclosure of group membership, where such disclosure would chill association, must meet strict scrutiny
3.Laws that prohibit a group from discriminating are constitutional unless they interfere with intimate association or expressive activity
-
How to punish membership in a group?
- To punish membership in a group it must be proven that the person:
- a. actively affiliated with the group;
- b. knowing of its illegal activities; and
- c. with the specific intent of furthering those illegal activities.
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