U.S. v. Lopez

Definition

U.S. v Lopez (1995) was a landmark Supreme Court case that limited the use of the Commerce Clause. The (5-4) verdict ruled that the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was unconstitutional because the U.S. Congress, in enacting the legislation, had exceeded its authority under the commerce clause. When the Gun-Free School Zone Act was passed in 1990, there were few limits on the Congress’s use of the Commerce Clause as the constitutional basis for regulation. The U.S. v. Lopez ruling set limits on the use of the Commerce Clause by the U.S. Congress.

Example

Questions

1. What constitutional clause does U.S. v Lopez involve?

2. What institution does U.S. v Lopez limit?

3. What constitutional principal was at the heart of U.S. v Lopez ?

4. Had you been on the Supreme Court how would you have ruled in U.S. v Lopez ?

5. Turn U.S. v Lopez into an emoji or a meme?

6. What would change if U.S. v Lopez were overturned by the current Supreme Court?

7. How did U.S. v Lopez alter federalism?

8. List some other significant Supreme Court cases that deal with the powers of the Commerce Clause.

9. In what was has the ruling in U.S. v Lopez impacted your and your education?

10. Do you agree with the ruling in U.S. v Lopez ?

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw U.S. v Lopez! Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

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Further Review