United States v. Butler

United States v. Butler
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued December 9–10, 1935
Decided January 6, 1936
Full case nameUnited States v. Butler, et al.
Citations297 U.S. 1 (more)
56 S. Ct. 312; 80 L. Ed. 477; 1936 U.S. LEXIS 946
Case history
PriorFranklin Process Co. v. Hoosac Mills Corp., 8 F. Supp. 552 (D. Mass. 1934); reversed sub nom. Butler v. United States, 78 F.2d 1 (1st Cir. 1935); cert. granted, 296 U.S. 561 (1935).
Holding
The Agricultural Adjustment Act is an unconstitutional exercise of power.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Charles E. Hughes
Associate Justices
Willis Van Devanter · James C. McReynolds
Louis Brandeis · George Sutherland
Pierce Butler · Harlan F. Stone
Owen Roberts · Benjamin N. Cardozo
Case opinions
MajorityRoberts, joined by Hughes, Van Devanter, McReynolds, Sutherland, Butler
DissentStone, joined by Brandeis, Cardozo
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. X, Agricultural Adjustment Act

United States v. Butler, 297 U.S. 1 (1936), is a U.S. Supreme Court case that held that the U.S. Congress has not only the power to lay taxes to the level necessary to carry out its other powers enumerated in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, but also a broad authority to tax and spend for the "general welfare" of the United States.[1] The decision itself concerned whether the processing taxes instituted by the 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act were constitutional.[2]

  1. ^ Chemerinsky (2015), p. 282.
  2. ^ United States v. Butler, 297 U.S. 1 (1936).