A Visual Guide to NFIB v. Sebelius: Competing Commerce Clause Opinion Lines 1789-2012

2012 Cardozo L. Rev. de novo 316

1 Pages Posted: 1 Jul 2012 Last revised: 22 Dec 2012

See all articles by Colin P. Starger

Colin P. Starger

University of Baltimore - School of Law

Date Written: June 30, 2012

Abstract

Though Chief Justice Roberts ultimately provided the fifth vote upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) under the Tax Power, his was also one of five votes finding the ACA exceeded Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause.

The doctrinal basis for Roberts’ Commerce Clause analysis was hotly contested. While Roberts argued that the ACA’s purported exercise of Commerce power “finds no support in our precedent,” Justice Ginsburg accused the Chief Justice of failing to “evaluat[e] the constitutionality of the minimum coverage provision in the manner established by our precedents.”

These diametrically opposed perspectives on “precedent” might prompt observers to ask whether Roberts and Ginsburg considered the same cases as controlling. This Visual Guide shows that though the justices agreed on relevant cases, they disagreed on which opinions within those cases properly stated the law. Both Roberts and Ginsburg implicitly adopted the reasoning of prior dissents and concurrences as well as majority opinions. The map illustrates how competing lines of Commerce Clause opinions constitute a long-running doctrinal dialectic that culminated – for now – in NFIB v. Sebelius.

This Visual Guide is a single-page PDF "poster" designed to serve as quick reference to the doctrinal debate.

Keywords: NFIB, Sebelius, ACA, Affordable Care Act, Commerce Clause, Obamacare, visual guide, dialectic, dissent

Suggested Citation

Starger, Colin P., A Visual Guide to NFIB v. Sebelius: Competing Commerce Clause Opinion Lines 1789-2012 (June 30, 2012). 2012 Cardozo L. Rev. de novo 316, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2097161 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2097161

Colin P. Starger (Contact Author)

University of Baltimore - School of Law ( email )

1420 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
United States

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