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HUMPHREY'S EXECUTOR v. U.S. Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: The Supreme Court held that the President lacked the authority to remove a Federal Trade Commissioner for policy reasons, as Congress could constitutionally limit removal to specific causes for officers of quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial agencies.
Legal Significance: This case established that Congress can limit the President’s removal power over officers in independent regulatory agencies performing quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial functions, distinguishing from purely executive officers discussed in Myers v. United States.
HUMPHREY'S EXECUTOR v. U.S. Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
William E. Humphrey was appointed by President Hoover as a Federal Trade Commissioner for a seven-year term, as stipulated by the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Act provided that commissioners could be removed by the President only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” In 1933, President Roosevelt requested Humphrey’s resignation, stating that the administration’s aims could be better achieved with personnel of his own selection and that their minds did not align on FTC policies. Humphrey refused to resign. President Roosevelt then issued an order removing Humphrey from office, citing no statutory cause. Humphrey’s executor sued for his salary from the date of removal until his death, arguing the removal was unlawful. The Court of Claims certified two questions to the Supreme Court regarding the President’s removal power under the Act and its constitutionality. The FTC was designed by Congress to be a non-partisan body of experts, exercising quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers, independent of executive control except in selection.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the Federal Trade Commission Act restrict the President’s power to remove a commissioner to only the enumerated causes, and if so, is such a restriction on executive removal power constitutional for an officer of a quasi-legislative/quasi-judicial agency?
Yes to both certified questions. The Court held that the Federal Trade Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culp
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does the Federal Trade Commission Act restrict the President’s power to remove a commissioner to only the enumerated causes, and if so, is such a restriction on executive removal power constitutional for an officer of a quasi-legislative/quasi-judicial agency?
Conclusion
This landmark decision significantly limited the President's removal power concerning officials in Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis
Legal Rule
The President's power to remove an officer depends on the character of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Exc
Legal Analysis
The Court first determined that the Federal Trade Commission Act, by specifying Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco l
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The President’s power to remove officials is not unlimited. - Congress