Chapter 2Constitutional Law

Chapter 2Constitutional Law

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What is the basic structure of the United States government?

What clause gives the federal government the power to regulate commercial activities among the states?

What is the Bill of Rights? What freedoms are guaranteed by the First Amendment?

What does “due process” mean?

What is the basic structure of the United States government?

What clause gives the federal government the power to regulate commercial activities among the states?

What is the Bill of Rights? What freedoms are guaranteed by the First Amendment?

What does “due process” mean?

Learning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

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Constitutional Powers of Government

Constitutional Powers of Government

Federalism: The federal constitution was a political compromise between advocates of state sovereignty and central government.

Separation of Powers: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Provides checks and balances.Legislative: enacts lawsExecutive: enforces lawsJudicial: declares laws/actions unconstitutional.

Federalism: The federal constitution was a political compromise between advocates of state sovereignty and central government.

Separation of Powers: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Provides checks and balances.Legislative: enacts lawsExecutive: enforces lawsJudicial: declares laws/actions unconstitutional.

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The Commerce ClauseThe Commerce Clause

U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to

“regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several

States, and with the Indian tribes.” (Art 1 § 8)

Greatest impact on business than any other Constitutional provision.

U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to

“regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several

States, and with the Indian tribes.” (Art 1 § 8)

Greatest impact on business than any other Constitutional provision.

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The Commerce ClauseThe Commerce Clause

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)To Chief Justice Marshall, commerce meant all

business dealings that substantially effected more than one state.

The national government had the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce.

Today: commerce clause applies to e-commerce internet transactions.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)To Chief Justice Marshall, commerce meant all

business dealings that substantially effected more than one state.

The national government had the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce.

Today: commerce clause applies to e-commerce internet transactions.

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The Commerce ClauseThe Commerce Clause

Expansion of Federal Regulatory Powers under Commerce Clause:Wickard v. Filburn (1942). Purely local

production, sale and consumption of wheat was subject to federal regulation.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964). Motel that provided public accommodations to guests from other states was subject to federal civil rights legislation.

Expansion of Federal Regulatory Powers under Commerce Clause:Wickard v. Filburn (1942). Purely local

production, sale and consumption of wheat was subject to federal regulation.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964). Motel that provided public accommodations to guests from other states was subject to federal civil rights legislation.

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The Commerce ClauseThe Commerce Clause

Commerce Clause Today:Theoretically: the federal government has

unlimited control over all business transactions since any enterprise (in the aggregate) can have a “substantial effect” on interstate commerce.

Practical Limits: Supreme Court has curbed federal regulatory powers in U.S. v. Lopez (1995) and U.S. v. Morrison (2000).

Commerce Clause Today:Theoretically: the federal government has

unlimited control over all business transactions since any enterprise (in the aggregate) can have a “substantial effect” on interstate commerce.

Practical Limits: Supreme Court has curbed federal regulatory powers in U.S. v. Lopez (1995) and U.S. v. Morrison (2000).

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Regulatory Powers of the States

Regulatory Powers of the States

Tenth Amendment reserves all powers to the states that have not been expressly delegated to the national government.

State have inherent “police powers.” Police powers include right to regulate health,

safety, morals and general welfare.Includes licensing, building codes, parking

regulations and zoning restrictions.

Tenth Amendment reserves all powers to the states that have not been expressly delegated to the national government.

State have inherent “police powers.” Police powers include right to regulate health,

safety, morals and general welfare.Includes licensing, building codes, parking

regulations and zoning restrictions.

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Dormant Commerce Clause

Dormant Commerce Clause

U.S Supreme Court has interpreted commerce clause to give national government exclusive power to regulate.

States only have a “dormant” (negative) power to regulate interstate commerce.

Dormant power comes into play when courts balance state’s interest vs. national interest, e.g., internet transactions.

U.S Supreme Court has interpreted commerce clause to give national government exclusive power to regulate.

States only have a “dormant” (negative) power to regulate interstate commerce.

Dormant power comes into play when courts balance state’s interest vs. national interest, e.g., internet transactions.

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The Supremacy ClauseThe Supremacy Clause

Supremacy Clause: Article VI of the Constitution provides that Constitution, laws and treaties of the United States are the “supreme law of the land.”

Concurrent: in few areas, both states and federal government share powers.

Preemption: when Congress chooses to act in a concurrent area, federal law preempts state law.

Supremacy Clause: Article VI of the Constitution provides that Constitution, laws and treaties of the United States are the “supreme law of the land.”

Concurrent: in few areas, both states and federal government share powers.

Preemption: when Congress chooses to act in a concurrent area, federal law preempts state law.

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Taxing and Spending Powers

Taxing and Spending Powers

Article I Section 8: Congress has the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises.”

Today, if federal tax has a reasonable relationship to revenue production, it will be held constitutional.

Congress can spend the revenues on any express or implied constitutional power.

Article I Section 8: Congress has the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises.”

Today, if federal tax has a reasonable relationship to revenue production, it will be held constitutional.

Congress can spend the revenues on any express or implied constitutional power.

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Business and the Bill of Rights

Business and the Bill of Rights

1791: Ten written guarantees of protection of individual liberties from government interference.

Originally, Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government.

Later, the Bill of Rights was “incorporated” and applied to the States as well.

Some protections apply to businesses.

1791: Ten written guarantees of protection of individual liberties from government interference.

Originally, Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government.

Later, the Bill of Rights was “incorporated” and applied to the States as well.

Some protections apply to businesses.

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Free SpeechFree Speech

Right to Free Speech is the basis for our democratic government.

Free speech also includes “symbolic” speech, including gestures, movements, articles of clothing. Texas v. Johnson (U.S. 1989): burning the

American flag is protected symbolic speech.

Right to Free Speech is the basis for our democratic government.

Free speech also includes “symbolic” speech, including gestures, movements, articles of clothing. Texas v. Johnson (U.S. 1989): burning the

American flag is protected symbolic speech.

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Corporate Free SpeechCorporate Free Speech

Corporate commercial speech (advertising) is given substantial protection. Government restrictions must:Seek to implement substantial government interestDirectly advance that interest andMust go no further than necessary to accomplish.

Corporations also have protected political speech (although not to the degree of a natural person).

Corporate commercial speech (advertising) is given substantial protection. Government restrictions must:Seek to implement substantial government interestDirectly advance that interest andMust go no further than necessary to accomplish.

Corporations also have protected political speech (although not to the degree of a natural person).

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Unprotected SpeechUnprotected Speech

U.S. Supreme Court has held that certain speech is NOT protected:Defamatory speechThreatening speech that violates criminal lawsFighting WordsObscene Speech is patently offensive, violates

community standards and has no literary, artistic, political or scientific merit.

U.S. Supreme Court has held that certain speech is NOT protected:Defamatory speechThreatening speech that violates criminal lawsFighting WordsObscene Speech is patently offensive, violates

community standards and has no literary, artistic, political or scientific merit.

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Online SpeechOnline Speech Protected or Unprotected?

Some of Congress’ attempts to protect children from online pornography have been ruled unconstitutional restriction on free speech.• Communications Decency Act (1996)• COPA (1998-challenged, in court)• Children’s Internet Protection Act (2000) which

requires filters for computers in public libraries and public schools). Challenged, in court.

What about “hate” speech on the web?

Protected or Unprotected?Some of Congress’ attempts to protect children

from online pornography have been ruled unconstitutional restriction on free speech.• Communications Decency Act (1996)• COPA (1998-challenged, in court)• Children’s Internet Protection Act (2000) which

requires filters for computers in public libraries and public schools). Challenged, in court.

What about “hate” speech on the web?

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Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

First amendment guarantees that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Establishment clause: no state-sponsored religion or preference for one religion over another.

Free Exercise: person can believe what he wants, but actions may be unconstitutional.

First amendment guarantees that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Establishment clause: no state-sponsored religion or preference for one religion over another.

Free Exercise: person can believe what he wants, but actions may be unconstitutional.

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Due ProcessDue Process

Due Process is both procedural and substantive.

Procedural: any government decision to take life, liberty or property must be fair. Requires: Notice and Fair Hearing.

Substantive: focuses on the content or the legislation (the right itself). Fundamental Right: compelling state interest. Non-Fundamental: rational relationship to state interest

Due Process is both procedural and substantive.

Procedural: any government decision to take life, liberty or property must be fair. Requires: Notice and Fair Hearing.

Substantive: focuses on the content or the legislation (the right itself). Fundamental Right: compelling state interest. Non-Fundamental: rational relationship to state interest

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Equal ProtectionEqual Protection 14th Amendment: A state may not “deny

to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Means that government must treat similarly situated individuals (or businesses) in the same manner. Courts apply different tests:Minimum scrutiny-economic rights.Intermediate scrutiny.Strict Scrutiny – fundamental rights.

14th Amendment: A state may not “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Means that government must treat similarly situated individuals (or businesses) in the same manner. Courts apply different tests:Minimum scrutiny-economic rights.Intermediate scrutiny.Strict Scrutiny – fundamental rights.

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Privacy RightsPrivacy Rights Fourth amendment protects against

unreasonable search and seizures. What about private information on the

internet? Reno v. Condon (2000). Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) found a

right to personal privacy implied in constitution, expanded in Roe v. Wade (1973).

Website privacy policies.

Fourth amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizures.

What about private information on the internet? Reno v. Condon (2000).

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) found a right to personal privacy implied in constitution, expanded in Roe v. Wade (1973).

Website privacy policies.