National League of Cities v. Usery (1974)
- Docket
- 74-878
- Decided
- 1974-01-01
- Public Good score
- 45 / 100
- Framers' Intent score
- 72 / 100
Summary
Question: May Congress, acting under its commerce power, regulate the labor market of state employees, which the Tenth Amendment reserves to the states? Conclusion: Congress may not regulate the labor market of state employees. The Tenth Amendment prohibits Congress from enacting legislation which operates "to directly displace the States' freedom to structure integral operations in areas of traditional governmental functions." While the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause is "plenary," that power has constitutional limits. In this case, the exercise of the commerce power ran afoul of the Tenth Amendment which protects the states' traditional activities.