Answer to Question #145393 in Political Science for Oumou Diallo

Question

What does Wickard v. Filburn (a 1942 case about federally-imposed wheat quotas) have to do with Gonzales v. Raich (a 2005 case about the federal Controlled Substances Act)?

Answer 1

Wickard v. Filburn, 1942 was a case that involved the US Supreme Court declaring that and activity did not have to have a direct effect on the interstate commerce for it to fall within the commerce power, as long as the effect is substantial and economic. This decision was made based on Commercial Clause after the introduction of the aggregation principle. The case relates to Gonzales v. Raich case of 2005, in that the US Supreme Court rules out that the Congress, through the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution, may criminalize the production of and use of homegrown cannabis even if the state law allows its use for medicinal purpose. In both cases, the power of the Congress as provisioned by the Commerce Clause is exuded in making court rulings.