How the Constitution Draws a ‘Line in the Sand’ for the Extent of Federal Control Over Non-Navigable Waterways
Liberty University Law Review, Vol. 5, p. 115, 2010
36 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2011
Date Written: September 30, 2011
Abstract
This Note criticizes the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Rapanos v. United States for continuing to focus on geographic boundaries for the extent of federal control over navigable and non-navigable waterways. By becoming so attenuated from the actual enumerated power, federal regulation of navigable waterways has forced the Court to begin drawing proverbial “lines in the sand” for how far upstream this federal regulation extends. For whatever reason, the Court has chosen to frustrate itself and the law over where this line should be drawn. It does this rather than acknowledge that the attenuation has gone beyond the plain meaning and purpose of the enumerated power. As a solution, this Note introduces the argument that recognizing the constitutional limitation, and only that limitation, is how the Court can determine the extent of federal power over navigable waterways and still act within the law. Any geographic “lines” or distinctions drawn are simply an arbitrary judgment by the Court to prevent federal control over even the smallest and most remote molecules of water. The Constitution provides an alternative “line,” and this “line” will allow the Court to base its limitation in law rather than politics.
Keywords: Navigable, Rapanos, Commerce Clause
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation