Below you will find pages that utilize the taxonomy term “Major Questions Doctrine”
Federalism Cases
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West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency
West Virginia v. EPA (2022)
1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)
2) Summary of the Opinion
Several states challenged the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which sought to shift electricity generation from coal to cleaner sources. The Supreme Court held 6–3 that the EPA lacked authority to implement such sweeping changes under the Clean Air Act without clear congressional authorization. The Court invoked the major questions doctrine, which requires explicit congressional approval for agencies to decide issues of vast economic and political significance.
Supreme Court Cases
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Biden v. Nebraska
Biden v. Nebraska (2023)
1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)
2) Summary of the Opinion
The Biden administration announced a plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower, citing authority under the HEROES Act of 2003. Six states challenged the program. The Supreme Court, in a 6–3 decision, struck it down, holding that the administration lacked clear congressional authorization for such a sweeping policy under the major questions doctrine.