Champion v. Ames

Wed, 27 Feb 1901 13:00:00 +0000

Location

Congress

Constitution and Delaware Street Washington D.C. 20002

Washington 20002

United States

38° 53' 31.1496" N, 77° 0' 29.1744" W

See map: Google Maps

Case Basics

Docket No.

Petitioner

Champion

Petitioner Type

Petitioner

Respondent

Ames

Respondent Type

Respondent

Heard By

Fuller Court (1898-1902)

Decided By

Fuller Court (1902-1903)

Opinion

188 U.S. 321 (1903)

Argued

Wednesday, February 27, 1901

Reargued:

Wednesday, October 16, 1901

Decided

Monday, February 23, 1903

Facts of the Case

The defendants in the case were arrested and convicted under an Act of Congress of 1895 that made it illegal to send or conspire to send lottery tickets across state lines.

Question

Did the transport of lottery tickets by independent carriers constitute "commerce" that Congress could regulate under the Commerce Clause?

Conclusion

In a 5-to-4 decision, the Court held that lottery tickets were indeed "subjects of traffic," and that independent carriers may be regulated under the Commerce Clause. The Court emphasized the broad discretion Congress enjoys in regulating commerce, noting that this power "is plenary, is complete in itself, and is subject to no limitations except such as may be found in the Constitution." The Court argued that Congress was merely assisting those states that wished to protect public morals by prohibiting lotteries within their borders.

Cases - 1900 term

Champion v. Ames

Location