Question

Bruce Church, Inc. is a company engaged in extensive commercial farming in Arizona and California. A provision of the Arizona Fruit and Vegetable Standardization Act requires that all cantaloupes grown in Arizona "be packed in regular compact arrangement in closed standard containers approved by the supervisor." Arizona, through its agent Pike, issued an order prohibiting Bruce Church from transporting uncrated cantaloupes from its range in Parker, Arizona, to nearby Blythe, California, for packing and processing. It would take many months and $200,000 for Bruce Church to construct a processing plan int Parker. Further, Bruce Church had $700,000 worth of cantaloupes ready for transportation. Bruce Church filed suit in federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the Arizona statutory provision on shipping cantaloupes. The court issued an injunction (essentially saying the statute was not constitutional) against the enforcement of the act on the grounds that it was an undue hardship on interstate commerce. Answer the following questions: 1. What is the Commerce Clause? 2. Will the Arizona regulation withstand Commerce Clause scrutiny? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer:

1. What is the Commerce Clause?

The Commerce Clause refers to the power held by Congress to regulate interstate commerce. Individual states can regulate commerce that takes place within their territory, but they cannot regulate trade between entities from their state and entities from other states.

2. Will the Arizona regulation withstand Commerce Clause scrutiny? Why or why not?

This is an actual court case and the US Supreme Court ruled against Arizona's regulation because it interferes with interstate commerce. The cantaloupes that Bruce Church produced were supposed to be sold in California, that means that 2 states are involved. The Commerce Clause applies whenever trade between 2 states are involved. An individual state's regulations cannot result in a burden for businesses engaged in interstate commerce.