ReviewQuestionsforStatutoryInterpretationandRegulatoryPractice
Feb.12,2016
Prof.Hester
1.
IftheU.S.Senateinvokesclotureunderitscurrentrules,
a.
opposingsenatorsmaystillattemptapost-cloturefilibuster-byamendmentbyofferingnumerousamendments,includingones
unrelatedtothesubjectmatteroftheunderlyingbill.
b.
c.
2.
d.
e.
opposingsenatorshavelosttheopportunitytofileanyamendments,
includinggermaneones,aftercloture.
theSenatewillconsideronlygermaneamendments.
bandc.
alloftheabove.
InHolyTrinityChurchv.UnitedStates,theU.S.SupremeCourt
a. struckdowntheActofFebruary26,1885becauseastrictreadingofits
textwouldleadtoanunconstitutionalinfringementonthecongregation’s
rightstofreeexerciseofreligionandspeech.
b. foundthatthestatutoryterm“lecturer”couldbeinterpretedbroadlyto
includeaministerofthegospelgiventheAct’sstatutorypurposetoapply
toimmigrantswhoperformmanuallaborerratherthan“braintoilers.”
c. ruledthatthetextoftheactappliedsquarelytothechurch’sarrangementstobringanEnglishministertoNewYorktoserveasrectorand
pastor,butthatthecourtcoulddisregardthatplaintextbecauseit
conflictedwiththestatute’sbroaderpurposeandwouldproducean
absurdresult.
d. concludedthattheActcouldnotbeinterpretedtoapplytoWalpole
Warren’sreligiousemploymentinNewYorkbecausetheActshouldbe
interpretedinlightoftheUnitedStates’historyasaChristiannation.
e. b,candd.
3.
4.
5.
f. candd.
InhislectureattheUniversityofHoustonLawCenter,JudgeRobert
Katzmann:
a. notedthatseveralfederaljudgeshadextensivelegislativeexperience
throughservingasCongressionalmemberspriortojoiningthebench,
andthisbackgroundhashelpedthemshapethedevelopmentoffederal
statutoryinterpretationrules.
b. concededthatstatutoryinterpretationsmustbeginwiththestatute’stext,
andthatacourtmusttruncateitsinquiryifthatlanguageisclear.
c. arguedthatfederalcourtsshouldnotdisregardlegislativehistorywhen
interpretingstatutesbecauseCongresshasworkedoutaneffective
processtodraftlaws,andthecourtsshouldturntothosematerialstosee
howtheyinformthelaw(eveniftheyaren’tlawthemselves).
d. endorsedtheuseofpost-enactmentlegislativehistorybyfederalcourts
becauseanyrelevantmaterialscanhelpshedlightontheintentofthe
enactingCongress.
e. bandc.
f. b,candd.
TrueorFalse:AbillundergoingreviewbyacongressionalConference
Committeemayfailevenifitreceivesafavorablevotefromamajorityofthe
Committee’smembers.
Whichofthefollowinglegislativetacticshelpedleadtopassageandadoption
oftheCivilRightsActof1964?
a. Adischargepetition.
b. Amotionforcloture.
c. Anamendmentthatsubstitutedtheentiretextofthebillasameansto
incorporatenumerouschanges.
d. AmajorityvotebytheConferenceCommitteetoreleasethebillfordirect
signaturebyPresidentJohnsonwithoutfurtherchanges.
6.
7.
e. a,bandc.
f. bandc.
g. alloftheabove.
Whichcaseholdsmostclearlythatfederalcourtsshouldrelyprimarilyon
thetextofastatute(andalsocorroboratinglegislativehistory)for
interpretation,eveniftheultimateoutcomeofthatplainlanguagemightbe
costlyandillogical?
a. InreDana
b. HolyTrinityChurchv.UnitedStates
c. TennesseeValleyAuthorityv.Hill
d. Lockev.UnitedStates
Trueorfalse:Congresscanincludealineiteminanappropriationsbillthat
deniesfundsforasubstantiveprogram,taskormatterthatthePresident
wishestopursueundertotheauthorityofapriorstatute.