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"as a threshold matter"

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Whmanutd  #388583  Fri, 06 Jul 07 07:07 AM
Just ran into this phrase minutes ago, but failed to find its meaning in all the dictionaries I have. Could anybody give me some guildline?

Thanks a lot!

Ben
  
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Mister Micawber  #388598  Fri, 06 Jul 07 07:50 AM

I need the context to discern the details, but a 'threshold matter' would be a situation, action or topic that was critical to some further step.

Threshold = the starting point for a new state or experience
Matter = some situation or event that is thought about
(Dict.com)

  
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'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'
Whmanutd  #388603  Fri, 06 Jul 07 08:06 AM
This is what I came across:

"The Comptroller General's plan to sue the Vice President raises a host of unresolved legal issues. As a threshold matter, there is a question whether the courts will permit a representative of Congress (here, the Comptroller General of the GAO) to invoke judicial process against the Executive. The courts often rely on the standing and political question doctrines to avoid adjudicating conflicts between the other branches."

I guess it could mean "First (of all)", but want to confirm with it.

Thanks a lot!

Ben
  
Mister Micawber  #388632  Fri, 06 Jul 07 10:39 AM

Yes, it is as I thought.  The first critical juncture is whether the courts will hear the case at all.

  
Marius Hancu  #388684  Fri, 06 Jul 07 01:36 PM
The first issue ...
  
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Anonymous  #545897  Thu, 24 Jul 08 02:09 PM
As i understand the phrase, it's not entirely accurate to describe it as the "first matter," but rather as something to be resolved before one gets to the principal, or substantive, issue/matter.  Ex: You want to sue person X for defamation.  As a threshold matter, you would need to find out if you had standing to sue at all, before looking into the merits of your defamation claim. 
  
Marius Hancu  #546039  Thu, 24 Jul 08 11:24 PM
 Anon, you're right ...
  
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