Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
interstate commerce
Read a random definition: federal statute
A quick definition of interstate commerce:
Interstate commerce means buying, selling, or moving things like products, services, or money between different states. The Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules about this kind of commerce. This means that Congress can make laws that affect how things are bought and sold between states. The Supreme Court has said that Congress can even make rules about things that happen only within one state, as long as they are part of a bigger plan for commerce between states. This has led to important laws like the Civil Rights Act and rules about growing marijuana.
A more thorough explanation:
Interstate commerce refers to the buying, selling, or moving of goods, services, or money across state lines. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which means they can make laws that affect how businesses operate across state borders.
For example, if a company in California wants to sell their products to customers in New York, they are engaging in interstate commerce. The federal government can regulate this activity to ensure fair competition and protect consumers.
Another example is the transportation of goods by truck or train across state lines. The federal government can regulate the safety standards for these vehicles to ensure they are not a danger to other drivers on the road.
Overall, interstate commerce is an important part of the U.S. economy and the federal government plays a key role in regulating it to ensure fairness and safety.