United States v. Butler
| United States v. Butler | |
|---|---|
| Argued December 9–10, 1935 Decided January 6, 1936 | |
| Full case name | United States v. Butler, et al. |
| Citations | 297 U.S. 1 (more) 56 S. Ct. 312; 80 L. Ed. 477; 1936 U.S. LEXIS 946 |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Franklin 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 | |
| |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Roberts, joined by Hughes, Van Devanter, McReynolds, Sutherland, Butler |
| Dissent | Stone, 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. The decision itself concerned whether the processing taxes instituted by the 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act were constitutional.