The Steel Seizure Case

The Steel Seizure Case, officially called Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952), was a Supreme Court decision about presidential power. During the Korean War, President Harry Truman tried to take control of steel mills to prevent a strike, arguing it was necessary for national security. The Court ruled that Truman didn't have the authority to seize private industry because the Constitution grants that power to Congress, not the President. The decision clarified that presidential powers are limited to those explicitly given by the Constitution or delegated by Congress, reinforcing the system of checks and balances.