UNITED STATES v. MORRISON (99-5) ___
Syllabus	Opinion [ Rehnquist ]	Concurrence [ Thomas ]	Dissent [ Souter ]	Dissent [ Breyer ]
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THOMAS, J., Concurring Opinion

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

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529 U.S. 598

UNITED STATES v. MORRISON

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

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99-5 Argued: January 11, 2000 --- Decided: May 15, 2000

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Justice Thomas, concurring.

The majority opinion correctly applies our decision in United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549 (1995), and I join it in full. I write separately only to express my view that the very notion of a "substantial effects" test under the Commerce Clause is inconsistent with the original understanding of Congress' powers and with this Court's early Commerce Clause cases. By continuing to apply this rootless and malleable standard, however circumscribed, the Court has encouraged the Federal Government to persist in its view that the Commerce Clause has virtually no limits. Until this Court replaces its existing Commerce Clause jurisprudence with a standard more consistent with the original understanding, we will continue to see Congress appropriating state police powers under the guise of regulating commerce.