LLM Constitutional Law 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the US Constitution, which clause requires states to honor the legal judgments and public records of other states?
- Full Faith and Credit Clause (Correct answer)
- Supremacy Clause
- Commerce Clause
- Due Process Clause
Correct answer: Full Faith and Credit Clause
Article IV, Section 1 requires states to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
Question 2: Which doctrine holds that a court will not adjudicate a constitutional question when the outcome of the case can be resolved on other grounds?
- Constitutional Avoidance Doctrine (Correct answer)
- Political Question Doctrine
- Mootness Doctrine
- Ripeness Doctrine
Correct answer: Constitutional Avoidance Doctrine
The Constitutional Avoidance Doctrine instructs courts to avoid deciding constitutional issues if the case can be resolved on statutory or other non-constitutional grounds.
Question 3: In the landmark case Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court established which fundamental principle?
- Judicial Review (Correct answer)
- Separation of Powers
- Federalism
- Individual Rights
Correct answer: Judicial Review
Marbury v. Madison established the power of judicial review, enabling federal courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.
Question 4: The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause applies most directly to which of the following?
- State government discrimination (Correct answer)
- Federal government action
- Private employer conduct
- Congressional legislation only
Correct answer: State government discrimination
The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment expressly restricts state governments from denying equal protection of the laws.
Question 5: Which test does the Supreme Court apply to laws that burden fundamental rights or involve suspect classifications?
- Strict Scrutiny (Correct answer)
- Rational Basis Review
- Intermediate Scrutiny
- Balancing Test
Correct answer: Strict Scrutiny
Strict scrutiny requires the government to show a compelling interest and that the law is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.
Question 6: The non-delegation doctrine limits Congress's ability to do which of the following?
- Transfer legislative power to executive agencies without intelligible principles (Correct answer)
- Enact tax legislation
- Override presidential vetoes
- Ratify international treaties
Correct answer: Transfer legislative power to executive agencies without intelligible principles
The non-delegation doctrine prohibits Congress from delegating its core legislative functions to other branches without providing an intelligible principle to guide agency action.
LLM Constitutional Law 1
Under the US Constitution, which clause requires states to honor the legal judgments and public records of other states?