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Blair v. United States, 250 U.S. 273 (1919)
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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.
Blair v. United States, 250 U.S. 273 (1919)
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Blair v. United States Nos. 763-768 Argued January 28, 1919 Decided June 2, 1919 250 U.S. 273
ERROR TO THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Syllabus
It is the duty of this court to refrain from passing upon the constitutionality of an act of Congress when the interests of the party attacking it do not entitle him to raise the question. P. 278.
Held, that witnesses subpoenaed in a grand jury investigation of possible violations of the Corrupt Practices Act of June 25, 1910, as amended, and of possible perjury in connection therewith, had no standing to question the power of Congress, under Art. I, § 4, of the Constitution, to enact provisions for regulation and control of primary elections of candidates for the office of United States Senator. P. 279.
Under the Fifth Amendment and the legislation of Congress, a federal grand jury has a broad power of investigation and inquisition; the scope of its inquiries is not to be narrowly limited by questions of propriety or forecasts of probable results; the examination of witnesses need not be preceded by a formal charge against a particular individual, and witnesses, duly subpoenaed, must attend and answer the questions propounded in the inquiry, subject to the right to be protected from self-incrimination, and excluding matters specially privileged by law. P. 281.
A witness summoned to give testimony before a grand jury in the District Court is not entitled to refuse to answer, when ordered by the court, upon the ground that the court and jury are without jurisdiction over the supposed offense under investigation. P. 282.
253 Fed. Rep. 800, affirmed.
The cases are stated in the opinion.
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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Blair v. United States, 250 U.S. 273 (1919) in 250 U.S. 273 250 U.S. 274–250 U.S. 276. Original Sources, accessed November 24, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=F8F7S4QA2X5NNDP.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Blair v. United States, 250 U.S. 273 (1919), in 250 U.S. 273, pp. 250 U.S. 274–250 U.S. 276. Original Sources. 24 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=F8F7S4QA2X5NNDP.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Blair v. United States, 250 U.S. 273 (1919). cited in 1919, 250 U.S. 273, pp.250 U.S. 274–250 U.S. 276. Original Sources, retrieved 24 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=F8F7S4QA2X5NNDP.
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