Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States Young, 1
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States: Discrimination in Public Business
Nick Young
Liberty High School
AP Government 4A
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States was a court case in which the Heart of Atlanta Motel was denying African Americans admittance into the Motel based on their race. In 1964, the Heart of Atlanta Motel was sued for violating Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ?forbade racial discrimination by places of public accommodation if their operations affected commerce? (Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2015). The results of this case helped determine the legality of public business owners choosing their own customers. It also helped define …show more content…
The appellant argued that Title II ?exceeded Congress? powers under the Commerce Clause and violated other parts of the Constitution? (Cornell Law, 2015) and also denied his 5th amendment rights by taking his liberty and property without the due process of law. The appellees counterclaimed, stating that denying rooms to African-Americans affected interstate travel, and therefore did fall under the Commerce Clause. Thus, the Supreme Court had to decide whether or not to uphold the Constitutionality of Title II. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court upheld that the Commerce Clause did allow the regulation of local commerce, and that Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was constitutional. The majority opinion, written by Justice Clark, explained that Title II specifically states that motels cannot discriminate based on race if it affects commerce, and that in this specific case commerce was affected. The majority opinion also ruled that the appellant?s 5th amendment rights had not been denied because the Commerce Clause?s powers were authorized by the
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States: Discrimination in Public Business
Nick Young
Liberty High School
AP Government 4A
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States was a court case in which the Heart of Atlanta Motel was denying African Americans admittance into the Motel based on their race. In 1964, the Heart of Atlanta Motel was sued for violating Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ?forbade racial discrimination by places of public accommodation if their operations affected commerce? (Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2015). The results of this case helped determine the legality of public business owners choosing their own customers. It also helped define …show more content…
The appellant argued that Title II ?exceeded Congress? powers under the Commerce Clause and violated other parts of the Constitution? (Cornell Law, 2015) and also denied his 5th amendment rights by taking his liberty and property without the due process of law. The appellees counterclaimed, stating that denying rooms to African-Americans affected interstate travel, and therefore did fall under the Commerce Clause. Thus, the Supreme Court had to decide whether or not to uphold the Constitutionality of Title II. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court upheld that the Commerce Clause did allow the regulation of local commerce, and that Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was constitutional. The majority opinion, written by Justice Clark, explained that Title II specifically states that motels cannot discriminate based on race if it affects commerce, and that in this specific case commerce was affected. The majority opinion also ruled that the appellant?s 5th amendment rights had not been denied because the Commerce Clause?s powers were authorized by the