Gibbons v. Ogden
Gibbons v. Ogden, 22 U.S. (9 Wheat.) 1 (1824), was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States which held that the power to regulate interstate commerce, which is granted to the US Congress by the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution, encompasses the power to regulate navigation. The decision is credited with supporting the economic growth of the antebellum United States and the creation of national markets. Gibbons v. Ogden has since provided the basis for Congress' regulation of railroads, freeways and television and radio broadcasts.
| Gibbons v. Ogden | |
|---|---|
Supreme Court of the United States | |
| Argued February 5, 1824 Decided March 2, 1824 | |
| Full case name | Thomas Gibbons, Appellant v. Aaron Ogden, Respondent |
| Citations | 22 U.S. 1 (more) |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Appeal from the Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors of the State of New York |
| Holding | |
| The New York law is invalid because the Commerce Clause of the Constitution designates power to Congress to regulate interstate commerce, and the broad definition of commerce includes navigation. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Marshall, joined by Washington, Todd, Duvall, Story |
| Concurrence | Johnson |
| Thompson took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. art. I sec. 8 clause 3 | |
The case was argued by some of America's most admired and capable attorneys at the time. The exiled Irish patriot Thomas Addis Emmet, as well as Thomas J. Oakley, argued for Ogden, and U.S. Attorney General William Wirt and Daniel Webster argued for Gibbons.