GIBBONS+v.+OGDEN

= = Gibbons vs. Ogden Background of this case: Thomas Gibbons had an operating steamboat service. Licensed by Congress, he was able to regulate coastal trade. Even though this was so, Ogden, Gibbons steam-boat rival, decided to file a complaint against Thomas asking the court to restrain him from operating and functioning his boats furthermore. This was so because Gibbons trade routes would not let Ogden go through with his own routes, interfering with the interstate commerce of one another. This left Ogden in complete awe and had to bring this case to court. Constitutional Significance: · Gibbon’s lawyer said that Congress had exclusive national power over interstate commerce according to Article I, Section 8. · Argue otherwise would result in confusing and contradictory local regulatory policies · Strengthened federal government stated in the Supremacy Clause.  Decision/Precedent of the case: The Court went on to conclude that Congressional power over commerce should extend to the regulation of all aspects of it, overriding state law to the contrary: “If, as has always been understood, the sovereignty of Congress, though limited to specified objects, is plenary as to those objects, the power over commerce with foreign nations and among the several states is vested in Congress as absolutely as it would be in a single government, having in its constitution the same restrictions on the exercise of the power as are found in the Constitution of the United States.”  Important terms/concepts: · supremacy clause · strengthened federal government · Interstate commerce <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">