A newly enacted federal law requires states to adopt a law banning texting while driving on interstate highways. Under the law, any state that does not enact such a law within three years will be denied 10% of the state’s allotment of federal highway construction funding. What is the best argument that can be made in support of the constitutionality of this federal statute?

A farmer orally agreed to lease a tractor from a company for $500. However, when the company’s secretary put the agreement into writing she accidentally typed in a charge of $300. Both the company and the farmer signed the contract without noticing the mistake in the price. When it came time for payment, the farmer refused to pay more than $300 for the rental of the tractor.  If the company brings an action for the difference between the payment as orally agreed and as memorialized in the contract, which of the following, if proven, would most benefit the company?

Two men were arrested while riding in a stolen automobile. They were taken to the police station, booked, and fingerprinted. They were then taken to an interrogation room. After the detective gave them their Miranda warnings, one of the men said, “Forget it. As soon as you check for outstanding warrants, you’ll find out that I escaped from prison. Since I am going back anyway, it’s a farce to deny that we stole that car.” The other man said nothing, and the first man proceeded to write and sign a full confession.  The man who remained silent pled not guilty to the charge of grand theft auto. At his trial the prosecutor seeks to introduce evidence to show that he did not deny that he stole the automobile when the other man told the police in front of him that he was a party to the theft. Should the court hold that this evidence is proper?

A contractor agreed to build a plant for a manufacturer for $5 million, with $1 million paid in advance and the balance to be paid upon completion of the project. The contract required the contractor to use lighting fixtures from a specific company. Inadvertently, the contractor installed fixtures from a different company. The installed fixtures are generally considered to be of a slightly better quality than the fixtures specified in the contract. The mistake was not discovered until the manufacturer did a final inspection of the building. As built, the plant is worth $10,000 more than it would have been worth had the specified fixtures been used. It would cost the contractor $100,000 to replace the fixtures with the ones specified in the contract. Because of a downturn in the economy, the manufacturer no longer wants to move into the new plant and refuses to pay the contractor because of the breach regarding the light fixtures.  If the contractor sues the manufacturer for breach of contract, which of the following doctrines will be most important to a court’s decision?

A high school graduate was asked by his elderly aunt to live with her in her large brownstone and attend to the household activities for the rest of her life, in exchange for the house. The graduate agreed, and moved from his parents’ home to the brownstone. For eight years, he attended to his aunt’s personal needs and maintained the household. No further discussion was ever had between the graduate and his aunt regarding conveyance of the brownstone.  Shortly after his aunt died, the graduate was contacted by the aunt’s estranged daughter, who stated that in the aunt’s last will and testament, she had devised the house to her. She sent proper notice to the graduate informing him that he must vacate the premises by the first of themonth.  If the graduate brings suit against the aunt’s estate for breach of contract, which of the following would be the graduate’s best argument?

Congress enacted a statute that purported to ban all discrimination against African-Americans in any commercial transaction taking place within the United States.  Would the statute most likely be held constitutional?

Congress passed legislation banning the hunting of snipe birds within the United States. The range of the snipe is quite limited; they are found primarily in only one state, although they migrate annually to several nearby states. Hunters from throughout the United States have traditionally traveled to the snipe’s home state during snipe hunting season, bringing considerable revenue into the state. A state statute allows hunting of snipe during a two-week period in November and charges a $50 license fee for state residents and a $250 fee for hunters from other states. The bag limit is one snipe bird per licensed hunter.  Is the state statute allowing snipe hunting valid?

Congress adopted legislation prohibiting the federal courts from ordering busing as a remedy for past racial discrimination in a public school district. Which of the following is the strongest argument that the federal legislation is unconstitutional?

A blacksmith ran a small forge in a tourist attraction depicting village life in the 1800s, and produced small metal trinkets for sale as souvenirs. A tourist came into the forge and started ridiculing the blacksmith, telling him that he was foolish for practicing such an out-of-date trade when modern equipment could produce the same trinkets faster and far more cheaply. Although he maintained a calm demeanor, the blacksmith was enraged by the time the customer finished and headed back out the door. He picked up an anvil and hurled it in the general direction of the customer. The anvil fell harmlessly to the ground after traveling maybe a foot.  If the blacksmith is charged with assault, which of the following statements would be most helpful for his defense?

A woman’s boyfriend came to her apartment with a mink coat in his arms and handed it to the woman. After the boyfriend told her that the coat was now hers, the woman asked him where he got the coat. The boyfriend answered, “From the Easter Bunny.” After the boyfriend left, she tried on the coat and admired how good it looked on her in the mirror. The next day, the woman read in the newspaper that the home of a well-known socialite had been burglarized the night before. Among the missing items, according to the paper, was a mink coat. The woman took the coat from the closet and rifled through the pockets. She found a handkerchief with the monogram matching the initials of the well-known socialite. The woman decided to keep the fur coat, thinking to herself that the socialite could probably afford to buy another coat.  Which of the following best describes the crime or crimes, if any, the woman has committed?