Missouri v. Holland, 252 U.S. 416 (1920) (No. 609)

Case name: Missouri v. Holland Opinion filed: 1920-04-19 Docket No.: 609 Citations: • 252 U.S. 416 • 40 S. Ct. 382 • 64 L. Ed. 641 • 1920 U.S. LEXIS 1520 Case holding summaries: • upholding Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 40 Stat. 755 (1918 • upholding Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 40 Stat. 755 (1918), pursuant to congressional power to implement treaties, and describing migratory birds as a "national interest of very nearly the first magnitude" since they are both "a food supply" and "the protectors of our forests and our crops" • noting that a treaty may override the power of states over "the great body of private relations," and holding valid a treaty regulating the treatment of migratory birds that travel within the borders of states • holding that Congress can act beyond its enumerated powers in Article I when implementing a treaty obligation • “If the treaty is valid there can be no dispute about the validity of the statute under Article 1, Section 8, as a necessary and proper means to execute the powers of the Government.” • referring to the protection of migratory birds as “a national interest of very nearly the first magnitude” • foreign affairs power allows federal government to regulate by treaty even subjects traditionally falling within state jurisdiction • stating that Congress can act beyond its enumerated Article I powers when implementing a treaty obligation • reasoning that, while "the great body of private relations usually fall within the control of the State, ... a treaty may override its power" • referring to the protection of migratory birds as “a national interest of very nearly the first magnitude” • upholding, against state’s tenth amendment chal­ lenge, federal statute that executed a treaty protecting migratory birds • federal treaty power is not checked by any “ invisible radiation from the general terms o f the Tenth Amendment” • "No doubt the great body of private relations usually fall within the control of the State, but a treaty may overrid