The Supreme Court's Decision
In a majority opinion written by Justice John Paul Stevens, the Court ruled that because the Act allowed the President to unilaterally amend or repeal parts of duly enacted statutes by using line-item cancellations, it violated the Presentment Clause of the Constitution, which outlines a specific practice for enacting a statute. The Court construed the silence of the Constitution on the subject of such unilateral Presidential action as equivalent to "an express prohibition", agreeing with historical material that supported the conclusion that statutes may only be enacted "in accord with a single, finely wrought and exhaustively considered, procedure", and that a bill must be approved or rejected by the President in its entirety.
Read more about this topic: Clinton V. City Of New York
Famous quotes containing the words supreme, court and/or decision:
“My true friends have always given me that supreme proof of devotion, a spontaneous aversion for the man I loved.”
—Colette [Sidonie Gabrielle Colette] (1873–1954)
“Universal empire is the prerogative of a writer. His concerns are with all mankind, and though he cannot command their obedience, he can assign them their duty. The Republic of Letters is more ancient than monarchy, and of far higher character in the world than the vassal court of Britain.”
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809)
“A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)