National League of Cities v. Usery
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| National League of Cities v. Usery | |
| Court | U.S. Supreme Court |
|---|---|
| Citation | 426 U.S. 833 (1976) |
| Date decided | 1976 |
| Overturned by | |
| Garcia v. San Antonio Metro. Transit Auth. | |
Facts
The court was considering the constitutionality of the Fair Labor Standards Act as applied to the federal government imposing minimum wage and overtime wage restrictions on state governments.
Issues
Whether these functions are essential to separate and independent existence, so that Congress may not abrogate the States’ otherwise plenary authority to make them
Holding
Judgment for the states.
Rule
When an amendment operates to directly displace the States’ freedom to structure integral operations in areas of traditional government functions, they are not within the authority granted Congress by the constitution.
Comments
Dissent:
The Constitution contemplates that restrains upon exercise by Congress of its plenary commerce power lie in the political process and not in the judicial process.
