Editing Commerce Clause (section)

=== Change in jurisprudence ===
Starting in 1995, the [[Rehnquist Court]]'s [[New Federalism|revived federalism]], as evident in its 5–4 decision in ''[[United States v. Lopez]],'' enforced strict limits to congressional power under the Commerce Clause.<ref name=":0" /> In ''Lopez'', the Court struck down the [[Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990]]. It was the first time in almost 60 years that the Court had struck down a federal law for exceeding the limits of the Commerce Clause.<ref name=":0" /> In the case, the Court was confronted with the conviction of a high school student for carrying a concealed handgun into school in violation of the act.

In striking down the federal law, the majority opinion explained:

<blockquote>[The Gun-Free School Zones Act] is a criminal statute that by its terms has nothing to do with "commerce" or any sort of economic enterprise, however broadly one might define those terms. [The act] is not an essential part of a larger regulation of economic activity, in which the regulatory scheme could be undercut unless the intrastate activity were regulated. It cannot, therefore, be sustained under our cases upholding regulations of activities that arise out of or are connected with a commercial transaction, which viewed in the aggregate, substantially affects interstate commerce.</blockquote>