Fronthingham v Mellon Brief PDF

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Brief of Fronthingham v Mellon...

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September 13, 2020 Citation: Frothingham v Mellon 262 U.S. 447 (1923) Facts: The plaintiff, Fronthingham, brought the suit forward claiming that the Maternity Bill that Congress passed in 1921, was an unwarranted exercise of power by Congress and violated the 10th Amendment. The bill provided appropriations to states complying with its measure for protecting infant and maternal health. The plaintiff asserted that this was an invasion of the states to self-govern and that spending taxpayer money on the act was unconstitutional. Thus, the statute would deprive her of property. Court Opinion/Rationale: Opinion written by Justice Sutherland  An individual lacks standing to challenge an Act as unconstitutional solely on the basis that they’re a taxpayer  Plaintiff did not suffer from an injury to bring the lawsuit in the first place  Matter is “essentially a matter of public and not of individual concern”  Met first prong of Flast, but failed in the second (lacked a particular stake in government action)...