Review Questions

Chapter 5: Legislation

  1. Why was the U.S. fertile ground for codification?
  2. When does legislation cross the line into adjudication? (Ponder v. Graham)?
  3. What is the hallmark of the legislative process?
  4. On what basis may courts invalidate legislation?
  5. Define the 'void-for-vagueness' doctrine.
  6. Describe the 'Plain Meaning Rule'.
  7. What is the underlying purpose guiding statutory construction?
  8. Why is the 'strict construction' principle applied to criminal statutes?
  9. What is legislative history?
  10. What is the relation between legislation and precedent?

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