4: Constitutional Law and US Commerce
- Page ID
- 11147
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)After reading this chapter, you should understand the following:
- Explain the historical importance and basic structure of the US Constitution.
- Know what judicial review is and what it represents in terms of the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
- Locate the source of congressional power to regulate the economy under the Constitution, and explain what limitations there are to the reach of congressional power over interstate commerce.
- Describe the different phases of congressional power over commerce, as adjudged by the US Supreme Court over time.
- Explain what power the states retain over commerce, and how the Supreme Court may sometimes limit that power.
- Describe how the Supreme Court, under the supremacy clause of the Constitution, balances state and federal laws that may be wholly or partly in conflict.
- Explain how the Bill of Rights relates to business activities in the United States.
The US Constitution is the foundation for all of US law. Business and commerce are directly affected by the words, meanings, and interpretations of the Constitution. Because it speaks in general terms, its provisions raise all kinds of issues for scholars, lawyers, judges, politicians, and commentators. For example, arguments still rage over the nature and meaning of “federalism,” the concept that there is shared governance between the states and the federal government. The US Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter of those disputes, and as such it has a unique role in the legal system. It has assumed the power of judicial review, unique among federal systems globally, through which it can strike down federal or state statutes that it believes violate the Constitution and can even void the president’s executive orders if they are contrary to the Constitution’s language. No knowledgeable citizen or businessperson can afford to be ignorant of its basic provisions.
- 4.1: Basic Aspects of the US Constitution
- This page outlines the U.S. Constitution's key concepts, including federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights. It highlights the significance of judicial review and discusses landmark cases such as Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade. The text examines the challenges of constitutional amendments and ongoing debates around judicial philosophy and the Supreme Court's role, particularly regarding privacy rights and the authority to overturn past rulings.
- 4.2: The Commerce Clause
- This page discusses the commerce clause in the Constitution, granting Congress power over interstate and foreign commerce. It chronicles Supreme Court interpretations over time, showcasing key cases like NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel and U.S. v. Lopez, which collectively address the limits of congressional authority. The text examines pivotal rulings, notably those affirming and restricting federal powers, including U.S. v. Morrison and Gonzales v.
- 4.3: Dormant Commerce Clause
- This page discusses the limitations on state legislation related to interstate commerce under the dormant commerce clause, highlighting that states cannot create undue burdens or discriminate against interstate trade. It illustrates these points with two key cases and examines Senator Carl Levin's comments on waste importation issues in Michigan. The section emphasizes the need for balance between state and federal powers in regulating commerce.
- 4.4: Preemption- The Supremacy Clause
- This page explains the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which asserts that federal law takes precedence over state law in case of conflicts. It covers express and implied preemption, with examples including nuclear regulation and tobacco laws. The discussion includes notable cases like Cipollone v. Liggett Group, emphasizing that adherence to both state and federal laws can often be impractical, resulting in the predominance of federal law.
- 4.5: Business and the Bill of Rights
- This page covers the application of the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment to businesses, emphasizing the limitations on government action rather than private operations. It discusses the selective incorporation of rights to states, focusing on the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments, including due process and equal protection principles.
- 4.6: Cases
- This page covers several significant legal cases. Griswold v. Connecticut emphasized a fundamental right to privacy against state contraceptive bans. Kassel v. Consolidated Freightways ruled that Iowa's truck length restrictions violated the Commerce Clause due to lack of safety justification. A North Carolina statute was declared unconstitutional for discriminating against out-of-state apple growers.
- 4.7: Summary and Exercises
- This page discusses the US Constitution as the legal foundation of the nation, emphasizing federalism, separation of powers, and the protection of individual rights through the Bill of Rights. It highlights the difficulty of amending the Constitution and the importance of judicial review by the Supreme Court in interpreting its meaning.
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