What happens if the government does not obey the law?

You have to go to court.
Government officials sometimes pass laws or regulations that are illegal or unconstitutional. Citizens can sue to try to get the courts to order the officials to obey the constitution and laws.
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What happens if a law violates the Constitution?

If a statute is facially unconstitutional, the courts have stated that it cannot be enforced and the legislature may choose to repeal an unconstitutional statute to avoid confusion or to replace that statute with a new version that seeks to reach similar policy goals.
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What is the punishment for violating the Constitution?

Aside from occasional public disapprobation, there is no penalty for violating the Constitution generally or the First Amendment in particular.
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What happens if a state does not want to abide by a federal law?

Nullification, in United States constitutional history, is a legal theory that a state has the right to nullify, or invalidate, any federal laws which they deem unconstitutional with respect to the United States Constitution (as opposed to the state's own constitution).
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Can you sue the government for violating the Constitution?

United States law allows an individual who believes that his or her constitutional rights have been violated to bring a civil action against the government to recover the damages sustained as a result of that violation.
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What happens if someone does not obey a court order?



What are human rights violations by government?

They include: Contaminating water, for example, with waste from State-owned facilities (the right to health) Evicting people by force from their homes (the right to adequate housing) Denying services and information about health (the right to health)
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What amendment lets you sue the government?

The Eleventh Amendment was ratified in 1798 in order to overrule the Supreme Court's decision that a South Carolina citizen could sue the state of Georgia for money damages. [Chisholm v.
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Can Supreme Court overturn federal law?

While the Constitution does not explicitly give the Court the power to strike down laws, this power was established by the landmark case Marbury v. Madison, and to this day, no Congress has ever seriously attempted to overturn it.
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Can U.S. states ignore federal law?

Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution is commonly referred to as the Supremacy Clause. It establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions.
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Can States legally override federal laws?

​When Does Federal Law Preempt State Law? The U.S. Constitution declares that federal law is “the supreme law of the land.” As a result, when a federal law conflicts with a state or local law, the federal law will supersede the other law or laws.
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What happens if the 4th Amendment is violated?

Where there was a violation of one's fourth amendment rights by federal officials, A bivens action can be filed against federal law enforcement officials for damages, resulting from an unlawful search and seizure.
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What is treason against the United States?

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and ...
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Can the government violate the First Amendment?

By virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment, the First Amendment's constitutional right of free speech and intellectual freedom also applies to state and local governments. Government agencies and government officials are forbidden from regulating or restricting speech or other expression based on its content or viewpoint.
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Can the Supreme Court be overruled?

When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court.
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Who has the power to decide if a law violates the Constitution?

The best-known power of the Supreme Court is judicial review, or the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution, is not found within the text of the Constitution itself. The Court established this doctrine in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803).
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What is it called when a law violates the Constitution?

When laws, procedures, or acts directly violate the constitution, they are unconstitutional.
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Does federal law trump state law?

The US Supremacy Clause is a provision in the US Constitution that states that the Constitution and the laws and treaties of the federal government are the supreme law of the land. The clause ensures that federal laws and regulations take precedence over any state or local laws that may conflict with them.
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Can you be immune to federal laws?

In the United States, sovereign immunity typically applies to the federal government and state government, but not to municipalities. Federal and state governments, however, have the ability to waive their sovereign immunity.
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Who has the power to nullify a federal law?

Nullification is the constitutional theory that individual states can invalidate federal laws or judicial decisions they deem unconstitutional, and it has been controversial since its inception in early American history.
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How many times has the Supreme Court overturned itself?

It's extremely rare for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn one of its own decisions. Of the more than 25,500 decisions handed down by the Supreme Court since its creation in 1789, it has only reversed course 146 times, less than one-half of one percent.
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Who controls the Supreme Court?

All Justices are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and hold their offices under life tenure. Since Justices do not have to run or campaign for re-election, they are thought to be insulated from political pressure when deciding cases.
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What are some examples of unjust laws in the United States today?

  • Money Bail. ...
  • Private Bail Companies. ...
  • Suspended Drivers Licenses. ...
  • Excessive Mandatory Minimum Sentences. ...
  • Wealth-Based Banishment That Outlaws Low-Income Housing. ...
  • Private Probation Abuses. ...
  • Parking Tickets to Debtors' Prison. ...
  • Sex Offense Registration Laws.
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Can you sue the US government?

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) allows you to sue the federal government for an action that a government employee commits within the scope of their official duties. These lawsuits are usually based on negligent acts, but you can also sue for intentional misconduct.
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What is the 9th Amendment trying to say?

The Ninth Amendment clearly rebutted the possible presumption that enumeration of some rights precluded the recognition of others. By its terms, it provides that the enumeration of specific rights should not be “construed to deny or disparage” other rights.
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What does the 8th Amendment allow you to do?

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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