In 1970 supreme court limit congress' ability to use commerce clause to address national issues
The U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause is included in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3. Congress has the authority under the Constitution to "control trade with foreign countries, among the various states, and with Indian tribes. The Commerce Clause has been frequently invoked by Congress as justification for exerting legislative control over the actions of states and their residents, sparking intense and ongoing debate about the distribution of power between the states and the federal government. The Commerce Clause has historically been seen as both a gift of power to Congress and a limitation on the power of the States to regulate themselves. The Trade Clause forbids states from enacting laws that discriminate against or unduly impede interstate commerce, and this is known as the "Dormant Commerce Clause."
