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Page Number: 49.0

10 

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE v. ARIZONA 

INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMM’N
 
ROBERTS, C. J., dissenting
 

majority, however, leaps from the premise that “the Legis-
lature” performs different functions under different provi-
sions  to  the  conclusion  that  “the  Legislature”  assumes
different identities under different provisions.

As  a  matter  of  ordinary  language  and  common  sense, 
however,  a  difference  in  function  does  not  imply  a  differ-
ence  in  meaning.  A  car,  for  example,  generally  serves  a
transportation  function.  But  it  can  also  fulfill  a  storage
function.  At  a  tailgate  party  or  a  drive-in  movie,  it  may 
play an entertainment function.  In the absence of vacan-
cies at the roadside motel, it could provide a lodging func-
tion.  To a neighbor with a dead battery, it offers an elec-
tricity generation function.  And yet, a person describing a
“car”  engaged  in  any  of  these  varied  functions  would  un-
doubtedly be referring to the same thing. 

The  Constitution  itself  confirms  this  point.  Articles  I 
and  II  assign  many  different  functions  to  the  Senate:  a
lawmaking  function,  an  impeachment  trial  function,  a
treaty  ratification  function,  an  appointee  confirmation
function,  an  officer  selection  function,  a  qualification 
judging function, and a recordkeeping function.  Art. I, §1; 
§3, cls. 5, 6; §5, cls. 1, 3; §7, cl. 2; Art. II, §2, cl. 2.   Yet the 
identity  of  the  Senate  remains  the  same  as  it  discharges 
these various functions. 

Similarly, the House of Representatives performs differ-
ent  functions,  including  lawmaking,  impeachment,  and 
resolving  Presidential  elections  in  which  no  candidate 
wins  a  majority  in  the  Electoral  College.    Art. I,  §1;  §2, 
cl. 5;  §7,  cl. 2;  Amdt.  12.    The  President  is  assigned  not
only  executive  functions,  Art. II,  but  also  legislative  func-
tions,  such  as  approving  or  vetoing  bills,  convening  both 
Houses of Congress, and recommending measures for their
consideration, Art. I, §7, cl. 2; Art. II, §3.  Courts not only
exercise  a  judicial  function,  Art. III,  §1,  but  may  also
perform an appointment function, Art. II, §2, cl. 2.  And so 
on.  Neither  the  majority  nor  the  Commission  points  to  a