Corporations Quote by Thom Hartmann
““for one hundred years people have believed that the 1886 case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad did in fact conclude that “corporations are persons.” But this book will show that the Court never stated this: it was added by the court reporter who wrote the introduction to the decision, a commentary called a headnote.””
About This Quote
Source Legal History: Supreme Court Analysis, 2020
The claim that Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad granted corporate personhood originates from a reporter’s headnote, not the Court’s opinion.
In simple terms: Corporate personhood claim stems from a headnote.
Key Takeaway
Question legal foundations critically.
Themes
law
corporate rights
history
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
legal
historical
When to use this quote
- legal education
- policy reform
- activist campaigning
Key Concepts
jurisprudence
interpretation
constitutional law
Questions to Reflect On
- What implications does this have for corporate regulation?
- How should courts address historical misconceptions?
A Different Perspective
Headnotes are not binding precedent.
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