469 U.S. 528 (1985)
Garcia v. City of San Antonio represents a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court addressing the limits of federal power over state actions, particularly within the context of employee labor standards.
Does the Fair Labor Standards Act apply to state and local government employees, thereby subjecting them to federal labor standards?
The main legal principle established is that the Commerce Clause grants Congress the authority to regulate wages and hours of state and local government employees under the FLSA, hence subjecting them to federal labor standards.
The Supreme Court held that the Fair Labor Standards Act applies to state and local government employees, thus overruling National League of Cities v. Usery and affirming the authority of Congress under the Commerce Clause to impose federal regulations on state functions.
Garcia v. City of San Antonio is significant for law students as it ushered in a new era of federal-state relations by reaffirming the reach of federal legislation over state actors. It highlights the continuing struggle with the concept of federalism—how to delineate the powers of federal and state governments, and emphasizes the Court’s role in interpreting inherently political questions. This case is particularly important in labor and employment law, establishing that state and local governments must comply with federal labor standards, impacting the rights of millions of public employees.