Asked by Casey Conrad on May 08, 2024
Verified
Why was United States v.Lopez (1995) important?
A) It was the first time since the New Deal that the Supreme Court limited the power of Congress as outlined under the commerce clause.
B) It was the first time that the Court had used the Tenth Amendment to limit the power of Congress.
C) The Court found the line-item veto unconstitutional.
D) The Court gave a broad interpretation of the commerce clause that expanded the power of the federal government over the states.
United States v. Lopez
A 1995 Supreme Court case that ruled the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 as unconstitutional for exceeding Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause.
Commerce Clause
A provision in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.
New Deal
A series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States during the 1930s to respond to the Great Depression.
- Examine the Supreme Court's role in interpreting and shaping federalism.
Verified Answer
JR
Justin RandolphMay 11, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
United States v. Lopez was important because it was the first time since the New Deal that the Supreme Court limited the power of Congress as outlined under the commerce clause. The Court held that the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which prohibited guns within 1,000 feet of a school, did not have a substantial effect on interstate commerce and was therefore unconstitutional. This decision was significant because it signaled a shift towards a more limited view of federal power and a greater emphasis on states' rights.
Learning Objectives
- Examine the Supreme Court's role in interpreting and shaping federalism.