Printz v. United States

Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court.

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act required state and local law enforcement officers to conduct background checks on prospective handgun purchasers pending establishment of a federal system. Printz, a county sheriff, challenged the law as commandeering state officers in violation of the Tenth Amendment.

Significance

Justice Scalia’s 5-4 opinion struck down the provision requiring state officers to administer federal law. Extending New York v. United States (1992), the Court held that Congress cannot commandeer state executive officers to implement federal programs. The power of the federal government is limited to regulating individuals directly — it cannot use state governments as its agents. The anti-commandeering principle protects state sovereignty and preserves the structural limits on federal power.

Category

US Federal Case Law