What are the Six Modalities of Constitutional Interpretation?

What is Textual Interpretation?
A strict reading of the text of the constitution

What is Structural Interpretation?
Using other parts of the constitution to provide meaning and context (comparative)

What is Historical Interpretation?

Historical evaluation of the framing, ratification, and other actions during the time of the creation of the constitution.
What is Doctrinal Interpretation?
Stare Decisis - prior interpretations of the constitution by the supreme court.

What is Prudential Interpretation?
Balancing the costs/benefits of various interpretations to seek the most practical or pragmatic alternative.

What is Ethical Interpretation
The moral and ethical commitments reflected in the constitution.

What is individual sovereignty?
The people are sovereign and grant power to the government which limits governmental power.

What is the Locke Theory of Governance?

What is the Montesqui view of Government?
Separation of Powers - checks and balances

What are the major outcomes of Marbury?
Categories of Justices

What is a case or controversy?
Adverse proceeding between litigants
Muskrat - Request for advisory opinion denied

What are the 5 limits on Jurisdiction?
What is Standing?

A party must be the proper person to bring suit
Lujan - Future observations of endangered species was too speculative to serve as a real injury.
What is Ripeness?
A case or controversy whose disposition is not too early or too late for ajudication

What is Mootness?
A question that has already been resolved, no longer requiring ajudication

What is a Political Question?
A question whose remedy is best resolved by political action, either through the legislative or executive branches.
What are the 3 elements of standing?
What constitutes a concrete and particularized case?

What is concrete?

Real not abstract (tangible harm), or ideological harm (government not following the law)
What is particularized?
When does a party have standing?
When is a case moot?