Legal Definitions - Interstate Commerce Commission

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was a federal agency established in 1887 to regulate surface transportation—such as railroads, trucking companies, and pipelines—that operated between states. Its primary responsibilities included certifying carriers, ensuring fair pricing, and monitoring the quality of services to prevent monopolies and ensure public safety. The ICC was eliminated by Congress in December 1995, with most of its duties transferred to the newly created Surface Transportation Board (STB).

• Example 1: Railroad Freight Rates

  In the early 20th century, a major railroad company operating lines from Chicago, Illinois, to Denver, Colorado, proposed a significant increase in the rates it charged farmers for transporting grain. Under its authority, the ICC would have reviewed this proposed rate hike to determine if it was fair and reasonable, preventing the railroad from exploiting its market position and ensuring that agricultural producers could afford to ship their goods across state lines.

• Example 2: Interstate Trucking Certification

  During the mid-20th century, a new trucking company wanted to begin transporting manufactured goods from factories in Michigan to distribution centers in Texas. Before it could operate, this company would have needed to apply to the ICC for certification. The ICC would have evaluated the company's financial stability, safety protocols, and operational plans to ensure it was a reliable and safe carrier capable of providing interstate transportation services.

• Example 3: Pipeline Expansion Oversight

  Suppose an oil company in the 1970s planned to construct a new pipeline to transport crude oil from drilling sites in North Dakota to refineries in Oklahoma. The ICC would have been responsible for regulating this interstate pipeline project, including approving its construction, monitoring its safety standards, and overseeing the tariffs (prices) charged for transporting oil through it, ensuring consistent and fair access for various producers.

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is a legally binding agreement among all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its purpose is to ensure that when children are placed across state lines for foster care, adoption, or other types of care, the involved states cooperate to protect the child's best interests. This includes facilitating the necessary investigations into the suitability of proposed homes and streamlining the process to avoid conflicts between different state agencies and courts.

• Example 1: Foster Care Placement with Relatives

  A child in foster care in Oregon has an aunt and uncle in Idaho who wish to provide a permanent home for them. Before the child can move, the ICPC requires Oregon's child welfare agency to formally request that Idaho's child welfare agency conduct a home study and background checks on the aunt and uncle. This ensures that the proposed placement meets Idaho's safety and suitability standards, and Idaho will agree to supervise the placement once the child moves.

• Example 2: Interstate Adoption Process

  A couple living in Massachusetts wants to adopt a child who is currently in the custody of a state agency in South Carolina. The ICPC governs this process, requiring South Carolina to request a home study of the Massachusetts couple by a Massachusetts agency. This ensures that the prospective adoptive parents meet Massachusetts's adoption requirements, and both states agree on the placement before the adoption can proceed across state lines.

• Example 3: Residential Treatment Placement

  A teenager in New Jersey requires specialized residential treatment for behavioral health issues, and the most appropriate facility is located in Pennsylvania. The ICPC would be invoked to ensure that New Jersey's child welfare agency coordinates with Pennsylvania's authorities to approve the placement, monitor the child's well-being in the facility, and ensure that the placement adheres to the legal and safety standards of both states.