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WICKARD v. FILBURN

Supreme Court of United States (1942) | 317 U.S. 111; 63 S.Ct. 82; 87 L.Ed. 122

3 min read

TL;DR: A farmer grew wheat for personal consumption in excess of federal limits. The Supreme Court held that Congress could regulate this purely local, non-commercial activity because, in the aggregate, it substantially affects interstate commerce by impacting national market prices.

Legal Significance: This case established the "aggregation principle," dramatically expanding Congress's Commerce Clause power to reach purely intrastate, non-commercial activities if, taken together, they have a substantial economic effect on interstate commerce. It represents the broadest interpretation of this power.