Constitutional Law
Constitutional Law tests judicial review, standing, federalism, separation of powers, due process, equal protection, and the First Amendment. The exam favors fact patterns where a state or city law burdens a protected right or interstate commerce.
Judicial power and federalism
Article III standing requires injury in fact, causation, and redressability; taxpayer standing is narrow. Congress may regulate interstate commerce, and states may not discriminate against or unduly burden interstate commerce under the dormant Commerce Clause. Federal law preempts conflicting state law, and the Supremacy Clause makes federal law supreme.
Due process and equal protection
Procedural due process asks what process is due under Mathews v. Eldridge. Substantive due process protects fundamental rights; equal protection scrutiny depends on classification: strict scrutiny for race and fundamental rights, intermediate for sex, rational basis for economic regulation.
First Amendment
Content-based regulations get strict scrutiny; content-neutral time, place, and manner rules must be narrowly tailored to a significant interest and leave open alternatives.
Worked example
A city bans all signs on public sidewalks except government flags. The ban is content-based because it favors government speech and suppresses other messages. It fails strict scrutiny absent a compelling interest narrowly tailored. A content-neutral ordinance limiting signs to 18 inches during rush hour may survive if it advances traffic safety and leaves ample alternatives.
Traps
Do not apply strict scrutiny to all speech restrictions; commercial speech gets intermediate scrutiny. State action is required for constitutional claims. Do not conflate due process with equal protection, or Article III standing with prudential standing.