Cases

Question 1

Gonzalez v. Raich

Answer 1

Home-grown marijuana case. Raich cultivated medical marijuana with no intention of distributing or selling on the market. The court determined that Congress may regulate local activities that, taken in the aggregate, could rationally be seen as having a substantial economic impact on interstate commerce.

Marijuana is a fungible commodity that could be readily diverted into the interstate market. Congress’s attempt to regulate the interstate market for marijuana would therefore would have been substanitally undercut if it could nto also regulate intrastate possession and consumption.

Question 2

United States v. Lopez

Answer 2

18 year old was arrested in school for carrying a loaded firearm, which was in conflict with the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990.

Rule: Congress can not, as a means of fostering an educated interstate labor market through the protection of schools, ban the possession of a firearm within a school zone.

Question 3

United States v. Darby

Answer 3

Darby was charged with violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (the Act) by failing to comply with minimum wage and hour requirements for employees. He challenged the violation, claiming the regulation on intrastate wages and hours did not fall within the commerce powers of Congress.

Rule: If the regulated intrastate activity has a substantial effect on interstate commerce, Congress may regulate the activity regardless of Congress’s motive.

Question 4

NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.

Answer 4

Steel company had numerous office in multiple states. NLRB found J & L engaged in unfair labor practices by firing empoyees involved in union activities. The Court determined the federal government has the power to regulate local employment practices when intrastate activies could potentially have a significant impact on interstate commerce.

Note: The US was coming out of the Great Depression. Industrial strife in oe location could have a raditating effect elsewhere, which impacts the movement and production

Question 5

United States v. Morrison

Answer 5

Women was raped by two men on VTech college campus. Two men were suspended for a year but punishment was overturned b/c it was thought to be too harsh.
Rule: Congress can not, in an effort to ensure full participation of women in the interstate economy, subject private individuals and companies to suit for gender-motivated violent torts.

Question 6

Gibbons v.

Answer 6

Commerce Clause

Question 7

Heart of Atlanta Motel

Answer 7

Interstate Commerice

Question 8

Katzenblack

Answer 8

Restaurant and Commerce Clause

Question 9

Child Labor Tax Case

Answer 9

Questions the constitutionality of the Child Labor Tax Law

Question 10

Champion v. Ames

Answer 10

Lottery Tickets

Question 11

Hammer v. Dagenhart

Answer 11

Child Labor Case

Question 12

Carter Coal

Answer 12

A

Question 13

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 13

A

Question 14

District of Columbia v. Heller

Answer 14

A

Question 15

Martin v. Hunter

Answer 15

A

Question 16

Cooper v. Aaron

Answer 16

A

Question 17

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 17

A

Question 18

Baker v. Carr

Answer 18

A

Question 19

Nixon v. US

Answer 19

A

Question 20

Muskrat

Answer 20

A

Question 21

Allen v. Wright

Answer 21

A

Question 22

Lujan

Answer 22

A

Question 23

McCardle

Answer 23

Petition for Habeas Corpus

Question 24

United States v. Comstock

Answer 24

18 USC Section 4248 allows a district court to detain a mentally ill, sexually dangerous individual beyond their prison sentences. Under the Necessary and Proper Clause, Congress has the authroity to hold the mentallt ill and sexually dangerous past their max. prison sentences. Congress has the authority to control federal prisons and therefore maintain authority over inmates.

Dissent: No enumerated power exists that allows the fed. gov. to civilly commit a federal prisoner.

Question 25

Child Labor Tax Case

Answer 25

Questions the constitutionality of the Child Labor Tax Law. The Court drew a distinction between a tax and a penality. Article 1, Section 8, Cl. 1 gives the government the power to tax, not to charge a penality for violating the law. Compares to Hammer

Question 26

United States v. Butler

Answer 26

In 1933, Congress enacted the Agricultural Adjustment Act which allowed the Secretary of Ag. to set limits on production. Butler challenged the constitutionality of the suit. The court determined Congress may not use its taxing and spending powers to obtain an unconstitutional result, such as invading the reserved rights of teh state under the 10th Amendment.

Madison believed the clause merely gives Congress the ability to tax and spend to carry out its other enumerated powers.

Hamilton belibed the clause gave Congress the power to tax and spend so long as it was in furtherance of the general welfare.

Hamilton’s view is correct, however, there are still limits.