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Public Utilities Comm’n of California v. United States, 355 U.S. 534 (1958)
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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.
Public Utilities Comm’n of California v. United States, 355 U.S. 534 (1958)
Public Utilities Commission of California v. United States No. 23 Argued January 7, 1958 Decided March 3, 1958 355 U.S. 534
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Syllabus
California enacted, and its Public Utilities Commission plainly indicated an intent to enforce, a statute which would have made contingent upon the Commission’s prior approval continuation of the Federal Government’s long established practice, sanctioned by federal law and regulations, of negotiating with common carriers special rates for the shipment of government property within the State. The United States sued in a federal court for a declaratory judgment declaring the state statute unconstitutional insofar as it prohibits carriers from transporting government property at rates other than those approved by the Commission.
Held:
1. The federal court had jurisdiction of the case and power to grant the relief sought. Pp. 536-540.
(a) There was an "actual controversy" between the United States and the Commission within the meaning of the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201. Pp. 536-539.
(b) In the circumstances of this case, the Government’s complaint was not barred by its failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Pp. 539-540.
(c) Injunctive relief in this case was not barred by 28 U.S.C. § 1342. P. 540.
2. When Congress authorizes its procurement agents to negotiate rates, a State may not require that those rates be approved by it. The United States cannot be subjected to discretionary authority of a state agency for the terms on which, by grace, it can make arrangements for services to be rendered it. Pp. 540-546.
141 F. Supp. 168 affirmed.
Contents:
Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Public Utilities Comm’n of California v. United States, 355 U.S. 534 (1958) in 355 U.S. 534 355 U.S. 535. Original Sources, accessed November 25, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GK6V8IT3WPUFC6G.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Public Utilities Comm’n of California v. United States, 355 U.S. 534 (1958), in 355 U.S. 534, page 355 U.S. 535. Original Sources. 25 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GK6V8IT3WPUFC6G.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Public Utilities Comm’n of California v. United States, 355 U.S. 534 (1958). cited in 1958, 355 U.S. 534, pp.355 U.S. 535. Original Sources, retrieved 25 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GK6V8IT3WPUFC6G.
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