Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump.
The Supreme Court addressed whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allows the President to impose tariffs. The Court concluded that IEEPA does not authorize such actions, emphasizing that Congress did not delegate its tariff-setting power to the President. The decision vacated the lower court's ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and affirmed the judgment in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump.
The Court held that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Executive Power is relevant to Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
The case examines the limits of the President's authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA, which relates to the scope of executive power.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Government thus concedes that the President enjoys no inherent authority to impose tariffs during peacetime.
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Why Nondelegation is relevant to Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
The Court's decision involves the nondelegation doctrine, questioning whether Congress delegated its tariff-setting power to the President through IEEPA.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Court has long expressed 'reluctan[ce] to read into ambiguous statutory text' extraordinary delegations of Congress’s powers.
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Why Spending Power is relevant to Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
The case involves Congress's power to levy tariffs, which is part of its taxing and spending powers.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution specifies that 'The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.'
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that support the summary and concepts above.
IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.
The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch.
Congress’s pattern of usage is plain: When Congress grants the power to impose tariffs, it does so clearly and with careful constraints.
