Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States ("The Sick Chicken Case"), 295 U.S. 495 (1935)


Facts of the Case
Section 3 of the National Industrial Recovery Act empowered the President to implement industrial codes to regulate weekly employment hours, wages, and minimum ages of employees. The codes had standing as penal statutes.

Question
Did Congress unconstitutionally delegate legislative power to the President?

Conclusion
The Court held that Section 3 was "without precedent" and violated the Constitution. The law did not establish rules or standards to evaluate industrial activity. In other words, it did not make codes, but simply empowered the President to do so. A unanimous Court found this to be an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority.


From the Oyez Project. Used with permission.