The Commerce Clause and VAWA

Over the next few classes, we will be talking about one of the most important concepts in understanding our construct of government in America; Federalism.  More specifically, we will look at how the "Commerce Clause" of the United States' Constitution gives Congress a wider scope of power than many might assume.  The Commerce Clause states:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; 

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; 

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes;

            -Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution

Congress uses this clause to extend its reach of power, anything that has to do with the regulation of interstate commerce, is now a power of Congress.

To understand this, I would like you to read the following article about the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act which was passed by Congress.

VAWA from CATO.org

Answer the following questions in your notebook...

1.  What is the Violence Against Women Act?
2.  How was Congress using the Commerce Clause to justify the passage of the Act?
3.  What does this teach us about Federalism?
4.  What was the result of the challenge in The United States v. Morrison?