INS v. Chadha: The Supreme Court Case that Invalidated the Legislative Veto

In 1983, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in INS v. Chadha that the legislative veto was unconstitutional. This landmark decision invalidated a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allowed one house of Congress to veto an executive agency’s decision. Here are some topical quotes from the case:

“The Constitution requires a bicameral legislature, which means that both houses of Congress must pass legislation before it can become law.” – Justice Powell

“The legislative veto violates the separation of powers by allowing Congress to exercise executive or judicial power.” – Justice Powell

“The Constitution’s structural safeguards would be meaningless if Congress could simply bypass them by giving itself the power to amend or repeal laws by a vote of one House.” – Justice Powell

Date of the case: June 23, 1983.