To: Citizens of United Knights of Dalewood

From: Mr. Nesin, Teacher

Date: February 25, 2025

Re: Constitutional Interpretation 2025-1 (Retroactivity of the 4th Amendment)

On February 13, 2025, Mr. Nesin gave the students in Law Class a test on the U.S. Constitution and the United Knights of Dalewood (“U.K.D.”) Constitution. Eight students who are enrolled in Law Class did not take the test because they were absent. Six days later, the U.K.D. amended its Constitution. The new Article 1, Section 10 provides that “Teacher cannot give any tests or quizzes for a grade.” 

The new amendment to the U.K.D. Constitution raises issues about retroactivity.  Is it constitutional for the  Teacher to require the eight students who missed the February 13 test to make it up? If not, how can that be accounted for in the gradebook?

Article 3, Section 5 of the United Knights of Dalewood Constitution states that the “Teacher is given limited authority by the class to interpret and enforce the provisions of this Constitution … .” I am using that limited authority now. For the reasons stated in this opinion, I find that the Teacher is prohibited from giving a makeup test, and therefore all students that were absent for the test given on February 13, 2025 should be marked as excused.

Amendment IV of the U.K.D. Constitution states simply that the Teacher cannot  give any tests or quizzes for a grade. There are no stated exceptions for makeups or any other reason. There is no evidence that the citizens that passed the amendment intended an exception for makeups. Therefore, the plain language of the amendment should be followed.