1918-A federal statute seeks to end child labor by prohibiting the interstate shipment of goods that child laborers had produced. In Hammer v. Dagenhart, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the statute goes beyond the powers the Constitution delegated to the federal government. The court finds that under the 10th Amendment, the individual states have the right to decide how to regulate the use of child labor in manufacturing
1935-To combat the Great Depression, Congress and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration establish the National Industrial Recovery Administration (NRA), which is one of the New Deal’s key programs. Its provisions include requirements for minimum wages and maximum hours, and certain price controls. In Schechter Corp. v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court says the program exceeds Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce and invades the states’ rights to regulate manufacturing.
1995-In United States v. Lopez, the U.S. Supreme Court grants the states more rights. It rules that Congress overstepped its authority under the commerce clause when it passed the 1990 Gun-Free School Zones Act. To uphold a law that determined the punishment for gun possession and gun use near schools, the court rules, would convert the commerce clause authority into general police power held only by the states under the 10th Amendment.
1997-A federal gun control law, known as the Brady Law, requires local authorities to perform background checks on potential gun buyers. In Printz v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court holds that the law violates the 10th Amendment. The federal government cannot issue directives requiring the states to address particular problems, or command state officials to enforce a federal regulatory program. The court says such commands are “fundamentally incompatible with our constitutional system of dual sovereignty.”
2000-Legislation about domestic violence and family law traditionally had been left to the states. In United States v. Morrison, the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a provision in the federal Violence Against Women Act because it exceeds Congress’ authority under the commerce clause and impinges on state control. A provision that permits victims of genderbased violence to bring federal lawsuits against their attackers is found to invade states’ police power.