304 U.S. 144 (1938)
United States v. Carolene Products Co.
What standard of review should be applied to economic regulations under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
In its decision, the Supreme Court established that economic regulations are generally subject to a rational basis review, which requires that the law be rationally related to a legitimate government interest. This standard is deferential to legislative judgments and does not require the government to demonstrate that the law is the best or most effective means of achieving its goals. The Court also introduced the concept of heightened scrutiny for laws that discriminate against discrete and insular minorities, as articulated in Footnote 4.
The Supreme Court upheld the federal statute prohibiting the interstate shipment of filled milk, ruling that the law did not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The Court reasoned that the legislation was a legitimate exercise of Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and that it was rationally related to the government's interest in protecting public health. The Court emphasized the importance of deference to legislative judgments in economic matters, thereby reinforcing the rational basis standard of review.
United States v. Carolene Products Co. is a foundational case for law students and legal practitioners alike, as it not only clarified the standard of review for economic regulations but also introduced the critical concept of heightened scrutiny for certain classifications. The case has been cited in numerous subsequent decisions, influencing the development of constitutional doctrine concerning both economic and social rights.