Little v. Barreme
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| Little v. Barreme | ||||||||||
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| Decided February 27, 1804 |
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| Chief Justice: John Marshall Associate Justices: William Cushing, William Paterson, Samuel Chase, Bushrod Washington, Alfred Moore |
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| Majority by: Marshall Joined by: unanimous |
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| U.S. Const. | ||||||||||
Little v. Barreme, 6 U.S. 170 (1804) was a 1804 decision of the United States Supreme Court which found that the President of the United States does not have "inherent authority" or "inherent powers" which allow him to ignore a law passed by the United States Congress.
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[edit] Summary
Pro DN, Pres order overstepped a congressional act, such action by president was not constitutional.
[edit] Facts
The frigate USS Boston commanded by captain George Little captured a Danish vessel, the Flying Fish, under orders of the Secretary of the Navy on behalf of President John Adams "to intercept any suspected American ship sailing to or from a French port."[1] The Congress, however, had passed a law authorizing the navy to seize "vessels or cargoes [that] are apparently, as well as really, American" and "bound or sailing to any [French] port" in an attempt to prevent American vessels transporting goods to France. The Flying Fish was sailing from and not to a French port. Captain Little was declared to be liable for executing a command that was illegal in nature. Little appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
[edit] Procedural history
- District Court, found for Petitioner
- Circuit Court of Massachusetts, reversed, found for Respondent
- United States Supreme Court, affirmed, found for Respondent
[edit] Issues
- Whether an order of the President, which in effect attempts to make law, can override an act of Congress.
- Officers are responsible for execution of illegal commands, despite nature of military chain of command.
[edit] Holding
No, an order of the President which is in contradiction with an act of Congress is illegally put forth.
[edit] Reasoning
The legislative branch makes laws and the executive branch enforces the laws. The Act of Congress only provided for the capture of vessels traveling to France. "The Flying Fish was on a voyage from, not to, a French port, and was therefore, had she even been an American vessel, not liable to capture on the high seas." The Act limited the president’s authority by only allowing the capture of certain vessels. The President acted contrary to these limitations.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Smith, Jean Edward. John Marshall: Definer of A Nation.(c) 1996, Henry Holt and Company, Inc. New York, NY. p. 339
