William J. Clinton, President of the United States v. City of New York case brief

William J. Clinton, President of the United States v. City of New York case brief summary

524 U.S. 417 (1998)

CASE FACTS

Appellees challenged the constitutionality of the Line Item Veto Act (Act), 2 U.S.C.S. § 691 et seq., after appellant, the United States President exercised his authority under the Act to cancel one provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33, 111 Stat. 251,515, and two provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-34, 111 Stat. 788, 895-896, 990-993.

DISCUSSION

• On review, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that the cancellation procedures set forth in the Act violated the Presentment Clause of the Constitution, U.S. Constitutional Article I, § 7, cl. 2. 
• The Court held that constitutional silence on the subject of unilateral Presidential action that either repeals or amends parts of duly enacted statutes is equivalent to an express prohibition. 
• Thus, cancellations pursuant to the Act had no legal force or effect and failed to satisfy the procedures set out in Article I, § 7.

CONCLUSION
Judgment was affirmed in favor of appellees because the cancellation procedures authorized by the Line Item Veto Act were not authorized by the Constitution.