Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, addresses discrimination in public accommodations. The Heart of Atlanta Motel refused to rent rooms to black patrons. Its owner challenged the constitutionality of Title II, arguing Congress lacked authority to prohibit segregation in a local motel. In Heart of Atlanta Motel v US (1964), SCOTUS rejected that claim – but not for the reasons you’d think! They ruled Congress has the authority to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations . . . under the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution 🤔🤷. Their reasoning expanded the authority of Congress under the Commerce Clause beyond its plain language of “regulat[ing] Commerce . . .among the several States,” but that’s not the worst part. Only 1 Justice determined Congress could enact the Civil Rights Act under its 14th Amendment authority! The rest held it could not! More on this insanity at https://wp.me/pecX6i-4cq

Post Views: 43