Question 1
The Constitution gives Congress a wide range of specific enumerated powers. One of Congress’ most far-reaching powers under the Constitution is derived from the Commerce Clause. The Commerce Clause empowers Congress “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states” (U.S. Const. art I, § 8, cl. 3). This power remained largely unused until the landmark decision in Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (Cheeseman, 2014). The political landscape of the case was significant because it arose at the height of the Civil Rights Era. In the Heart of Atlanta Motel case, a private motel refused to ...