PSC 2302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Archibald Cox, Saturday Night Massacre, Watergate Scandal
Document Summary
Case example where the court defines the extent of executive power in relation to the rule of law in a domestic fashion. Department resign because they wouldn"t fire special prosecutor archibald cox. Nixon eventually resigns as the house judiciary committee has passed articles of impeachment proceedings. Case deals with claims of executive power in relation to the legal system in a domestic fashion. Involves the concept of executive immunity during a civil case. Paula jones files a suit against bill clinton, claiming he sexually harassed her while he was governor of arkansas. If the president is acting in his official capacity and his actions are not clearly unlawful, he is immune from civil suits and cannot be sued: supported by nixon v fitzgerald case. Majority opinion (justices agree on the outcome of the case and agree with the reasoning given) is given by.