Constitutional Law case studies
Constitutional Law · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Constitutional Law is a standard subject on U.S. bar licensing and law school exams, testing the structure of government and individual rights under the U.S. This page prepares candidates for a multiple-choice and essay assessment weighted across ten domains: judicial review, legislative power and the Commerce Clause, federalism and state sovereignty, executive power, due process and incorporation, equal protection, the two First Amendment domains (speech, press, and assembly; religion), fundamental rights and unenumerated rights, and state action with congressional enforcement. It suits law students, bar candidates, and anyone who needs working doctrinal fluency rather than trivia. The Constitutional Law case studies are 5 cases and about 5,150 words.
1Riverwatch Alliance: Standing, Mootness, and Jurisdiction-Stripping
The Cascade River flows through three states. In 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule under the Clean Water Verification Act requiring states to impose monitoring conditions on industrial dischargers.
1,074 words, about 5 min2Maya’s Hemp Crop: Commerce Power, Necessary and Proper, and the Tax/Penalty Distinction
In response to a price collapse, Congress enacts the Agricultural Market Integrity Act (AMIA). Section 101 makes it unlawful to cultivate more than 25 'market-variety' hemp plants without a federal license.
1,083 words, about 5 min3Arden’s Refusal: Anti-Commandeering, Spending Conditions, and Eleventh Amendment Immunity
Congress enacts the State Election Data Act (SEDA) to protect election infrastructure. Section 201 requires each state’s chief election officer to transmit voter registration records to a federal database within 30 days of each election.
1,064 words, about 5 min4Northgate Academy: Race-Neutral Admissions and Intentional Discrimination
The state of Lorne operates a competitive magnet school, Northgate Academy, with 600 seats. In 2024, the legislature replaces race-conscious admissions with a 'community opportunity' plan: applicants from ZIP codes where the poverty rate exceeds 25 percent receive a 15-point boost on a 100-point admission index.
955 words, about 5 min5Halden’s Civic Plaza: Public Forum, Permit Scheme, and Donor Disclosure
The city of Halden owns a paved plaza in front of City Hall. For 20 years, the plaza has been used for rallies, leafleting, and press conferences.
974 words, about 5 min