Swift & Co. v. United States
Encyclopedia
Swift & Co. v. United States, 196 U.S. 375
(1905), was a case in which the United States Supreme Court
ruled that the Commerce Clause allowed the government to regulate monopolies if it has a direct effect on commerce. This case established a 'stream of commerce' or 'current of commerce' argument that allows Congress to regulate things that fall into either category. In the case at bar it let Congress to regulate the Chicago slaughterhouse industry. Even though the slaughterhouse supposedly only dealt with intrastate matters, the butchering of meat was merely a "station" along the way between cow and meat. Thus as it was part of the greater meat industry that was between the several states Congress can regulate it.
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1905), was a case in which the United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
ruled that the Commerce Clause allowed the government to regulate monopolies if it has a direct effect on commerce. This case established a 'stream of commerce' or 'current of commerce' argument that allows Congress to regulate things that fall into either category. In the case at bar it let Congress to regulate the Chicago slaughterhouse industry. Even though the slaughterhouse supposedly only dealt with intrastate matters, the butchering of meat was merely a "station" along the way between cow and meat. Thus as it was part of the greater meat industry that was between the several states Congress can regulate it.