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United States v. Butler

United States Supreme Court

297 U.S. 1

Facts

In 1933, Congress enacted the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to set limits on the production of certain crops and tax farmers that produced in excess of those limits. The AAA also provided grants to farmers to control their production of crops and thus regulate prices. Butler (plaintiff), a processor of crops, brought suit against the United States government (defendant) in federal district court to challenge the constitutionality of the AAA. The district court ruled that Butler was required to pay taxes under the AAA, but the court of appeals reversed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Roberts, J.)

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Dissent (Stone, J.)

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