Question

A local group had planned a parade for tomorrow, but city hall has not yet acted on its application for a permit. The group had applied for the permit well in advance, had made sure their application satisfied all the requirements, and was clearly entitled to a permit. Although the law prohibits parades without a permit, the group plans to proceed with its parade. The group's leader defended its decision by appealing to the principle that citizens need not refrain from actions that fail to comply with the law if they have made a good-faith effort to comply but are prevented from doing so by government inaction. Which one of the following actions would be justified by the principle to which the leader of the group appealed in defending the decision to proceed? (A) A chemical-processing company commissioned an environmental impact report on its plant. The report described foul odors emanating from the plant but found no hazardous wastes being produced. Consequently, the plant did not alter its processing practices. (B) A city resident applied for rezoning of her property so that she could build a bowling alley in a residential community. She based her application on the need for recreational facilities in the community. Her application was turned down by the zoning board, so she decided to forego construction. (C) The law requires that no car be operated without a certain amount of insurance coverage. But since the authorities have been unable to design an effective procedure for prosecuting owners of cars that are driven without insurance, many car owners are allowing their insurance to lapse. (D) A real-estate developer obtained a permit to demolish a historic apartment building that had not yet been declared a governmentally protected historic landmark. Despite the protests of citizens' groups, the developer then demolished the building. (E) A physician who had been trained in one country applied for a license to practice medicine in another country. Although he knew he met all the qualifications for this license, he had not yet received it one year after he applied for it. He began to practice medicine without the license in the second country despite the law's requirement for a license.

Short answer

Option E aligns with the principle, as the physician acted after government inaction delayed his license.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Principle

The group leader defends their decision to hold the parade without a permit based on a principle: Citizens are justified in actions that do not comply with the law if they made a good-faith effort to comply but are hindered by government inaction.

Identify Key Elements

The principle highlights two key points: (1) a good-faith effort to comply with legal requirements and (2) government inaction that prevents compliance.

Analyze the Options

Each option must be evaluated to see if it aligns with the principle, focusing on whether the person or group made an honest effort to comply and was thwarted by a lack of government action.

Evaluate Option (A)

The chemical-processing company took initiative by obtaining an environmental report and found no hazardous wastes. However, the company did not face government inaction preventing compliance, so it does not align with the principle.

Evaluate Option (B)

The city resident applied for rezoning in good faith, but her application was rejected by the zoning board, not because of inaction. Therefore, this option doesn't align with the principle.

Evaluate Option (C)

Car owners are purposely letting insurance lapse due to ineffective prosecution efforts. This does not reflect a good-faith effort to comply hindered by inaction; rather, it's an exploitation of enforcement weaknesses.

Evaluate Option (D)

The developer acted within their rights with the permit they received, and there's no element of being prevented by government inaction. This does not fit the principle either.

Evaluate Option (E)

The physician applied for a license and satisfies the requirements for one. However, due to governmental delay, he hasn't received it yet. Therefore, beginning practice without a license matches the principle of good-faith effort hindered by inaction.

Key concepts

Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning is about understanding and evaluating arguments, which includes identifying premises and conclusions. It's essential for the LSAT, as it forms the basis of many questions. Logical reasoning helps one determine if an argument is sound or valid.
Breaking down arguments into their basic components can assist in spotting errors or fallacies. For instance, identifying whether someone has made a good-faith effort involves assessing the reasonable actions taken, such as in the parade scenario where the group has applied for a permit.
Such tasks require:-

• Critical Evaluation: Judging whether the steps or justifications in a given situation are logical and feasible.
• Inference Making: Drawing conclusions based on available information.
• Pattern Recognition: Noticing recurring themes or methods that might signal underlying assumptions or conclusions.

These skills not only help in answering questions like the one in the original exercise but are fundamental to succeeding in legal and everyday contexts.

Principles of Legal Compliance

Understanding principles of legal compliance means grasping how laws and regulations apply in diverse scenarios. It's crucial to differentiate between those abiding by the law and those acting outside its framework.
In the exercise, the group's leader uses a principle of legal compliance—making a good-faith effort but being thwarted by government inaction. This shows a partial adherence to legal standards when circumstances prevent full compliance.
Key points in determining legal compliance include:

• Intent: Establish the intention behind an action, such as an effort made to fulfill legal requirements.
• Action: Consider the actions taken and if they align with legal expectations.
• Obstacle: Identify any hindrances, like government delays, that impact compliance.

Legal compliance is not always black and white, and understanding nuanced principles is vital, particularly in more strict regulatory environments applicable to various professions and industries.

Standardized Test Strategies

Standardized test strategies can significantly enhance performance on exams like the LSAT. Effective strategies should be tailored to the section in focus. For logical reasoning questions, this might mean having a plan to efficiently dissect and understand arguments.
Some strategies include:

• Active Reading: Engage fully with the text, annotating key points which can help in understanding complex principles.
• Process of Elimination: Quickly eliminate obviously incorrect answers to improve odds of selecting the right answer.
• Time Management: Allocate time wisely across questions to ensure every question gets attention.

By mastering these strategies, students can increase their accuracy and efficiency when facing challenging LSAT sections. Just as in the example of analyzing the principle applied by the group leader, standardized test strategies involve recognizing patterns and principles to make informed decisions under time constraints.