United States v. Butler

Media Items
Case Basics
Docket No.: 
401
Petitioner: 
United States
Respondent: 
Butler
Decided By: 
Hughes Court (1932-1937)
Opinion: 
297 U.S. 1 (1936)
Categories: 
power to tax and spend, tenth amendment, regulation, federalism
Location No location information present.

Cite this page
The Oyez Project, United States v. Butler , 297 U.S. 1 (1936)
available at: (http://oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1935/1935_401)
Facts of the Case: 

As part of the 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act, Congress implemented a processing tax on agricultural commodities, from which funds would be redistributed to farmers who promised to reduce their acreage. The Act intended to solve the crisis in agricultural commodity prices which was causing many farmers to go under.

Question: 

Did Congress exceed its constitutional taxing and spending powers with the Act?

Conclusion: 

The Court found the Act unconstitutional because it attempted to regulate and control agricultural production, an arena reserved to the states. Even though Congress does have the power to tax and appropriate funds, argued Justice Roberts, in this case those activities were "but means to an unconstitutional end," and violated the Tenth Amendment.

Decisions

Decision: 6 votes for Butler, 3 vote(s) against
Legal provision: US Const Amend 10; Agricultural Adjustment Act

Sort by Ideology

Voted with the majority
Hughes
Voted with the majority
Van Devanter
Voted with the majority
McReynolds
Voted with the minority, joined Stone's dissent
Brandeis
Voted with the majority
Sutherland
Voted with the majority
Butler
Wrote a dissent
Stone
Wrote the majority opinion
Roberts
Voted with the minority, joined Stone's dissent
Cardozo

Full Opinion by Justice Owen J. Roberts

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