Business Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“For the power given to Congress by the Constitution does not extend to the internal regulation of the commerce of a State (that is to say, of the commerce between citizen and citizen,) which remain exclusively with its own legislature; but to its external commerce only, that is to say, its commerce with another State, or with foreign nations, or with the Indian tribes.”
About This Quote
Source Letter or political essay, early 19th century United States
Congress’s constitutional power is limited to regulating interstate and foreign commerce, not intrastate commerce
In simple terms: Only external commerce falls under federal authority
Key Takeaway
Understand limits of federal commerce power
Themes
law
federalism
constitutional interpretation
Mood
analytical
formal
Type
legal
historical
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- court cases
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
commerce clause
state sovereignty
Questions to Reflect On
- How should federal power adapt to digital markets?
- What balance should states have in regulating local trade?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations evolve with modern commerce complexities
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