Does anyone know what the "Lopez" test is for work at the Alabama Nuclear Power Plant?

Answer 1

Sounds like its a slang term for a test. like POTUS ( president of the united states )

Answer 2

In legal matters, a test is a way of evaluating whether a certain situation applies to a special effect of the law or a certain way of looking at the case. the term 'test case' is also used to test the durability of a certain law. An example would be laws that challenge Roe v Wade or religion in schools. Test cases can be in favor or challenging the existing law. If the law "passes" the test case, it is made more durable. If not, it is weakened, and more likely to be overturned, and struck down as a law.

The case in question, United States v. Lopez, invalidated the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 by holding the Gun-Free School Zones Act beyond Congress’s power to regulate commerce. This ruling appears to address much larger issues than just challenging the Gun Free Schools Act.

In brief, the Gun Free Schools Act was signed into law the the first President bush, even though he thought that it overrode the importance of states to make their own laws regarding the subject matter. Indeed, many states already had laws similar to that of the act, and Bush saw the Act as the Legislative branch's willingness to trivialize the right of individual states to tailor these laws themselves. It is a case of good intentions getting in the way of the right of states to tailor their laws in accordance their own reasoning.

The Lopez case clearly defined demonstrated that Congress had exceeded its legislative jurisdiction over states' rights. The Lopez Test (and this is almost surely an oversimplification) is that if the state has substantial laws for the point in law, then Congress - and by relation, the Legislative branch - need not be involved.

Not being a lawyer, I personally wonder about this affects the fed's ability to introduce and enforce uniformity in regulation of potentially catastrophic industries like nuclear power plants. After all, having Congress override states' rights was what finally allowed blacks to attend college in the south, and struck down racially motivated laws designed to keep minorities from their constitutionally-guaranteed rights. However, it does seem to be a legitimate concern that Congress should not interfere with the function and regulation of an individual state's right to govern as it sees fit. In many cases the laws that Congress could enact for an entire nation could be less stringent than those enacted by the state itself.

I imagine that this debate where it concerns nuclear power is far from over, as regulatory errors at a state level could cause widespread, Chernobyl-type contamination well outside a state's border and jurisdiction. Personally, I think the Lopez test should not apply to the nuclear industry, as the fed has a vested interest in maintaining a uniform regulatory with industries that are by their nature and mishap multi-jurisdictional.

However i am not a lawyer.


Lopez (1995 – Gun Free Schools Act outside scope of congressional power)
Lopez Test:1. channels of commerce (to keep free from immoral uses –Darby, Heart Atlanta
2. instrumentality of interstate commerce (person or thing in, even if regulation only reaches intrastate activity (Shreveport Rate)
3. substantial affect on interstate commerce (Jones & Laughlin Steel

Answer 3

The Lopez test is a pretty tough test that we utilized at Caterpillar for our Tool Room Machinist Apprenticeship. It s pretty tough and covers areas of math (algebra, physics, geometry), problem solving, mechanical aptitude, etc. It s pretty likely that if you can pass the test your chances for success are extremely high. The pass rate is probably 15%-25%. Know your algebra and you have a great chance. Be able to convert fractions to decimals, add, subtract and divide fractions. Add and subtract decimals.

Answer 4

Jeezzzz....I dated a "Lopez" for a while and he AND his family were so totally dysfunctional and f***ed-up it's not even funny....now I wonder if his parents worked there before "spawning" the rest of the "Lopez Losers"

Answer 5

i live near an alabama nuclear plant

Answer 6

Lopez is a test centre, perhaps they just use some of their methods....?

Answer 7

Sounds like someone is pulling your leg.

Answer 8

It is a background investigation

Answer 9

Yeah you have to pull a chain, oh that's right, they are pulling yours.

Answer 10

Ok now i'm totally scared.