247 U.S. 251
Hammer v. Dagenhart is a landmark U.S.
Does Congress have the power under the Commerce Clause to regulate child labor through a statute prohibiting the interstate shipment of goods produced by children?
The Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate interstate commerce but does not extend to the regulation of production, a domain traditionally reserved to the states.
The Supreme Court held that the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was unconstitutional as it exceeded the powers of Congress under the Commerce Clause and could not be justified as a regulation of interstate commerce.
Hammer v. Dagenhart is significant for illustrating the limitations of the Commerce Clause at the time, representing a narrow interpretation of federal powers in economic regulation. This case set a precedent for states' rights over child labor laws until it was overruled by United States v. Darby in 1941, which adopted a broader view of congressional powers under the Commerce Clause.