Opinion ID: 657236
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Applicable Tests.

Text: 36 The Supreme Court has established that where an act of Congress arguably threatens the integrity of another branch's authority and independence, the proper separation of powers inquiry is whether Congress has impermissibly undermined the role of that branch. Schor, 478 U.S. at 856, 106 S.Ct. at 3260. This is the test which we apply to the qui tam provisions of the FCA. In other words, we must consider whether the qui tam provisions  'disrupt[ ] the proper balance between the coordinate branches [by] prevent[ing] the Executive Branch from accomplishing its constitutionally assigned functions.'  Morrison, 487 U.S. at 695, 108 S.Ct. at 2621 (quoting Nixon v. Administrator of General Services, 433 U.S. 425, 443, 97 S.Ct. 2777, 2790, 53 L.Ed.2d 867 (1977)). To determine whether the qui tam provisions undermine the role of the Executive Branch, we must decide whether, within the meaning expressed in Morrison, these provisions accord the Executive Branch sufficient control over the conduct of relators to ensure that the President is able to perform his constitutionally assigned duties. 6 Morrison, 487 U.S. at 696, 108 S.Ct. at 2622. 37