Supreme Court Cases Period 1 Fall 2015

By: Daniel Lim
Gibbons v. Ogden(1824)
Background Information:
States gave licenses to individuals to operate steamboats on waters in the particular states waters. The states that would
enforce these laws had substantial fees for out of state steamboat operators. Thomas Gibbons a steamboat owner who did
business between New Jersey and New York with a federal coastal license was still being fined by the state of New York even
with his federal license, so he challenged Aaron Ogden’s monopoly license grant that monopolized the area and would
downplay on small businesses like Gibbons’.
Constitutional Issue(s):
New York did not have the right to regulate interstate commerce.
Supreme Court Decision (Majority Opinion):
New York’s requirement for an out of state steamboat to pay a fee for navigation privileges was deemed unconstitutional.
Precedent:
National government has exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce under the
Supremacy Clause and Commerce Clause
Concurring Opinion(s):
“The “power to regulate commerce” here meant to be granted was that power to
regulate commerce which previously existed in the states” Justice Johnson.
Dissenting Opinion(s):
No dissenting opinion
Sources Cited (MLA):
“Gibbons vs Johnson:. Justia.com. Justia. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Johnson, Justice. “Gibbons vs Ogden”. Law.cornell. LII. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Mcbride, Alex. “Gibbons vs Ogden.” PBS. PBS, 1 Dec 2006. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Oyez.org. Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech. Web. 8 Dec. 2016
Quick Links:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_gibbons.html
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/22/1#writing-USSC_CR_0022_0001_ZC
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/22/1/
https://www.oyez.org/cases/1789-1850/22us1
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