EXPLORE YOUR U. S. CONSTITUTION

The Archive

Reference Library

The founding document as written, a plain overview of the seven Articles, and a glossary of archaic and legal terms.

Back to Supreme Court Rulings

Judicial Power & Separation of Powers

INS v. Chadha

Decided: 1983

In brief

Struck down the legislative veto, reinforcing separation of powers between Congress and the executive.

The Court's ruling in depth

A federal statute allowed either house of Congress, by simple resolution, to override an executive-branch decision to suspend deportation. The Court held this 'one-house veto' unconstitutional: any action legislative in effect must satisfy bicameralism (passage by both houses) and presentment (to the President). Chadha invalidated legislative-veto provisions scattered throughout hundreds of federal statutes and dramatically reshaped how Congress delegates and oversees executive power.

[ Sponsor Ad Placeholder ]