Constitutional Law

Jody BlankeProfessor of Computer Information Systems and Law

The Constitution

Separation of Powers Art. 1 – The Legislative Branch Art. 2 – The Executive Branch Art. 3 – The Judicial Branch

Checks and Balances

The Enumerated Powers Clause Art. 1 Sec. 8 of the Constitution Authorizes Congress

to collect taxes to coin money to establish a postal system to raise and support Armies to provide and maintain a Navy to regulate interstate commerce to protect the writings of authors and the

discoveries of inventors

Preemption

If Congress is authorized to make law, and does so with the intent that it be the only law, that law will preempt any state law

Preemption Figure A

Ex. FAA Ex. Patent Act

Figure B

Ex. Cipollone (1993)

Ex. Silkwood (1984)

Ex. Federal Anti-Spam Act

1st and 14th Amendments

1st Amendment “Congress shall make no law …”

14th Amendment “No State shall make or enforce any law

which shall …”

Most protections/restrictions apply to both federal and state governments

State Action Public vs. private The Fourteenth Amendment prohibits

states from certain discriminatory behavior Citadel case (1995)

school can have a males-only admissions policy as long as it receives no public funding

Augusta National Golf Club Moose Lodge v. Irvis (1972)

Issuance of liquor license is not state action

Commerce Clause The interpretation by the Supreme

Court of the scope of the commerce clause has changed dramatically over the years

Early on, the interpretation was fairly broad Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Congress, rather than New York, had the authority to regulate steamboats on the Hudson River

Commerce Clause

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution and Big Business, the interpretation narrowed considerably Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918)

The Court refused to let Congress regulate with “social legislation,” e.g., child labor laws

Commerce Clause New Deal legislation pushed by F.D.R.

and passed by the Congress was struck down by the Supreme Court in several 5-4 decisions Schechter Poultry (1935)

Congress lacked the power to regulate intrastate poultry processing activity

The “Court Packing” Incident Why not have 13 Supreme Court

justices?

Commerce Clause

Supreme Court finally permits Congress to regulate intrastate activity if it effects interstate commerce (in 5-4 decisions) Jones of Laughlin Steel Corp. (1937) Wickard v. Filburn (1942)

intrastate activity may have a cumulative effect on interstate commerce

Commerce Clause

Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the basis of interstate activity Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964)

motel catered to interstate travelers Katzenbach v. McClung (1964)

restaurant served food that was part of interstate commerce

Commerce Clause

Supreme Court finally draws an outer boundary to interstate activity U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Gun-Free School Zone Act U.S. v. Morrison (2000)

Violence Against Women Act

Dormant Commerce Clause State laws cannot unduly burden

interstate commerce Georgia would not be able to require

all restaurants in the state to serve only dairy products from Georgia dairy farms

Maine v. Taylor (1986) But, Maine was permitted to ban the

importation of live bait fish