Advice on Constitutional Issues

Dilemma 1 Your client wants to become president of the United States in 2016. He is

now 34, and his birthday is on January 16. Can he serve?

Dilemma 2 The Senate and the House of Representatives have passed a bill requiring

all teenagers, including females, to shave their heads. Who can stop this law from taking

effect?

Dilemma 3 A certain congressman is tired of living in Washington, D.C. He wants to

move back to his home state and run his ranch full-time. He proposes that Congress not

meet at all this year. Is his proposal constitutional?

Dilemma 4 You have a neighbor who was born and raised in Austria. She moved to the

United States five years ago. She loves politics and wants to hold any office—president,

senator, member of the House of Representatives—she doesn’t care which. Can she?

Dilemma 5 The Senate’s 100 members cannot agree on a law that forces all fast-food

restaurants to sell veggie burgers only. They are split right down the middle: 50 are in

favor, and 50 are against. Who can break the tie?

Dilemma 6 A blizzard strikes the nation’s capital. Only 200 of the 435 members of the

House of Representatives show up for that day’s session. Can they pass bills?

Dilemma 7 A member of Congress is asked by the president to become secretary of

defense. Her comment is “Cool. Now I can be both a congresswoman and cabinet member.

I’ll have so much power and make a ton of money.” Can she hold both positions

simultaneously?

Dilemma 8 The president gets mad at Illinois and decides to declare war on the state.

Who can stop him from completing such a strange and unconstitutional act?

Dilemma 9 It has been revealed that the president has been stealing money from the

treasury. He now owns Madagascar. That’s right. He purchased Madagascar with stolen

money. Under the Constitution, what actions should be taken against him?

Dilemma 10 Your client is having trouble with his mail service. Who is the best person

to call: his congresswoman, the president, or the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Dilemma 11 In a Senate vote, 52 senators vote in favor of a treaty with Belarus, while

48 vote against. Is the treaty approved?