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United States v. Powers, 307 U.S. 214 (1939)
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General SummaryThis case is from a collection containing the full text of over 16,000 Supreme Court cases from 1793 to the present. The body of Supreme Court decisions are, effectively, the final interpretation of the Constitution. Only an amendment to the Constitution can permanently overturn an interpretation and this has happened only four times in American history.
United States v. Powers, 307 U.S. 214 (1939)
United States v. Powers No. 687 Argued April 21, 1939 Decided May 15, 1939 307 U.S. 214
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
Syllabus
1. Whether an offense against a temporary Act may be punished after the Act has expired depends upon the legislative purpose. P. 216.
2. An Act of Congress, designed to protect interstate and foreign commerce from "contraband" oil and to encourage oil conservation and containing administrative and punitive provisions for its effectuation, provided that it should "cease to be in effect on June 16, 1937." It was amended June 14, 1937, by an Act which declared its purpose to continue the earlier Act until June 30, 1939, and which merely changed the date of expiration accordingly.
Held, a clear indication of purpose to treat the entire Act as if, by its original terms, it was to expire on the day to which it was so extended, and that violations of the Act committed prior to the original date of expiration were indictable thereafter. P. 217.
3. Article I, § 9, cl. 3 of the Federal Constitution, proscribing ex post facto laws, does not bar such prosecution. P. 218.
4. A statute susceptible of more than one interpretation should be given that which will make it effective. P. 217.
Reversed
Appeal under the Criminal Appeals Act and § 238 Jud.Code, from a judgment sustaining demurrers to an indictment and motions to quash it.
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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," United States v. Powers, 307 U.S. 214 (1939) in 307 U.S. 214 307 U.S. 215. Original Sources, accessed November 22, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=6EJHK5A6B5KNRAK.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." United States v. Powers, 307 U.S. 214 (1939), in 307 U.S. 214, page 307 U.S. 215. Original Sources. 22 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=6EJHK5A6B5KNRAK.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in United States v. Powers, 307 U.S. 214 (1939). cited in 1939, 307 U.S. 214, pp.307 U.S. 215. Original Sources, retrieved 22 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=6EJHK5A6B5KNRAK.
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