Legislative Law
by Robert Hedges ©


The writing of new statute LAW is the work
of the elected legislative bodies, either the
KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE or UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

Each of the legislative bodies have specific responsibilities and authority. The states have been jealous of Federal power since 1776. Congress is limited to mandating legislation under the power of the US Constitution. Power reserved to the states must be regulated by the individual state legislatures.


Case law cites about the legislature | The vanity of Judges | Judges traveling to court. | The power of Congress to act. | William Stewart and Tenney | Letters to the Courier Journal |

"Legislative intent must be a pole star to guide us" Wesley v Board of Educ of Nicholas Co, 403 SW2d 28 at 29 (KY 1966) as cited in Hibbard v Huffman Datsun, 791 SW2d 726, (Ky App 1990)

" all presumptions will be indulged in favor of those for whose protection the enactment was made " Firestone Textile v Meadows, 666 SW2d 730, (KY 1984) Liebson. & Vance JJ

US Supreme Court Justice A. Scalia argues tirelessly that case by case, seat of the pants, jurisprudence turns judges into illicit legislators who substitute their policy preference for those of the people's democratically-elected officials. Judges, not all of whom have the "wisdom of Solomon", should apply general unvarying rules to every case. If a judge can add rights, they can also take them away. TIME 8 Jul 96 p.48

US Supreme Court Justice A. Scalia wrote a decision (1993) that said that prosecutors are not always immune . . if they take part in a false action . . .that is conspiracy and should be filed in a federal court under 42 usca1983,1985 and under 42 usca 1988 to collect fees...

"I believe there are more instances of abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation's. . . " James Madison. Federalist Papers No. 46. a constant tendency of the states to encroach on the Federal authority . . . to oppress the weaker party. Madison

No man is good enough to govern another, without that other's consent. Abe Lincoln.

Time is the 101st Senator. He is the ally of those who want to do nothing. Sen Christopher Dodd.

The illegal we do immediately. . .The unconstitutional takes a little longer" Henry A. Kissinger

"The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution (makeup) of the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is scarcely a scare-crow,)". . . . . Thomas Jefferson, 1821.

"It is not the function of the government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error." - U.S. Supreme Court

"Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is force, like fire, a dangerous servant and a terrible master." - George Washington

The United States Supreme Court is not concerned with the wisdom, need or appropriateness of legislation. Whalen v Roe, 429 US 589, (1976)

. . . . what is good legislative policy for a state is not necessarily required by the constitution of the United States. . . Griffin v Ill, 351 US 12 at 28, (1955) dissent of Burton & Minton JJ.

If the act be within the power of the state it is valid, although the judgment of the court might be totally opposed to the enactment of such a law - Lochner v NY, 198 US 45, (1905) Peckham J

Representatives elected by the people to make their laws, rather than judges appointed to interpret those laws, can best determine those policies which govern people. SPRR v Arizona, 325 US 761, (1945)

Whether or not this be wise legislation, it is not the providence of the court to inquire under our system of government. The courts are not concerned with the wisdom or policy of legislation. Lichner v NY, 198 US 45, (1905) Harlan, White, Day JJ dissent

The Supreme Court is not primarily concerned with the correction of errors in the lower court decisions -An Address to the American Bar Association. 69 S Ct vi (1949) Vinson CJ

Men who make their way to the bench sometimes exhibit vanity, irascibility, narrowness, arrogance and other weaknesses to which human flesh is heir. Most judges, however, recognize and respect courageous, forthright lawyerly conduct. Sacher v US, 343 US 1 at 6-12, (1951)

Oh Kings you owe your crown and writ to law, not nature's dispensation; while you stand high above the nation, the changeless law stands higher yet.
Puskin 1817

The principal of the sovereign no longer having the right to expect allegiance from the subjects is exemplified by the Huguenots in France during the 16th century, followed soon after by the Jesuits, who developed a very well supported biblical treatise on rebellion against unjust sovereigns.

judges are men, not disembodied spirits, who are blind to the political reality around them - Frankfurter J; cited in "the Role of the Supreme Court in a Democratic society, 54 Corn L Rev 1 at 11 (1968) Wright.


under construction
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS needs to consider :
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Last modified: May 2008