239 U.S. 441 (1915)
The case of Bi-Metallic Investment Co. v.
Does the Due Process Clause require a hearing before the government can make a decision that affects all property owners in a general manner, such as increasing the value of property assessments?
Due process does not require an individual hearing when a legislative-type determination, affecting large numbers of people in a general way, is made by a governing body.
No, due process does not require a hearing in instances where the action taken is legislative in nature, impacting all property owners equally. The Supreme Court held that individuals are not entitled to due process in the form of a hearing when a governmental action applies generally and not to identified individuals.
Bi-Metallic is significant for law students as it offers a foundational understanding of the limitations of due process within administrative law. It established the principle that legislative actions, which broadly affect classes of individuals, do not typically require individualized hearings. This case provides a necessary balance between government efficiency and individual rights, illustrating the boundaries of procedural due process in legislative contexts. As a seminal case in constitutional law, it has been cited in numerous subsequent decisions to underline the distinction between legislative and adjudicative functions.