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ConLaw I Skeletal Outline
 
I. Judicial Review: It is emphatically the province of the courts to say that the law is. Marbury (judicial review over federal gov’t), Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee (judicial review over state decisions involving federal/const. law). SCOTUS cannot review state sup. ct. decisions decided on state law.
II. Limitations on Judicial Review
III. Federal Legislative Power (enumerated powers; everything else to states, 10th Amend.)
A. Necessary & Proper (Art. I, McCulloch v. Maryland—federal bank; "Let end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which are not prohibited, but consist with the letter and spirit of the constitution, are constitutional.")
B. Commerce: can Congr. rationally conclude that given activity affects IC? If so, regulation is ok (even if the activity is entirely intrastate). Including:
C. Limitations on Commerce Power (10th Amend.—state sovereignty)
D. Taxing & Spending (Art. 1, §8): As long as a regulation raises some revenue (or so long as Congress merely intended it to do so), it's ok, even if there are significant hidden regulatory motives. Ct. has left taxing and spending virtually within the sole discretion of Congress. Spending must be:
E. 14th Amend (§5): Federal Legislation in Aid of Civil Rights
IV. State Power in American Federalism
V. Separation of Powers—Congressional and Executive Relations
VI. State Action Doctrine: