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Immigration & Naturalization Serv. v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919 (1983)

Full notes and cites: https://opinion-of-the-court.pages.dev/ep/072-immigration-naturalization-service-v-chadha

Official text (U.S. Reports, Library of Congress): https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep462/usrep462919/usrep462919.pdf

Full text of the opinions, AI-narrated (Kokoro-82M, voice af_heart). Original introduction; opinion text is public domain. Not legal advice.

Jagdish Chadha, born in Kenya to Indian parents and holding a British passport, overstayed his student visa. An immigration judge suspended his deportation, and the Attorney General reported that decision to Congress, as the law required. Then the House of Representatives, by a simple resolution without debate or a recorded vote, vetoed the suspension of deportation for Chadha and five others.

Chief Justice Burger, for the Court, struck down that one-house legislative veto. Legislative action must satisfy the Constitution's requirements of bicameralism, passage by both Houses, and presentment to the President. Convenience and efficiency are not the primary objectives of democratic government, he wrote.

Justice Powell concurred on narrower grounds. Justice White's dissent pointed out that the decision invalidated, in one stroke, provisions in nearly two hundred federal statutes, more laws than the Court had struck down in its entire history. Justice Rehnquist also dissented.

Citations: reporter citations were shortened or left out of the audio; every citation is listed on the website.

Cases named aloud

- Parker v. Levy, 417 U.S. 733 (1974) at 742, n. 10 [as printed: Parker v. Levy, 417 U. S. 733, 742, n. 10 (1974); Opinion of the Court (Chief Justice Burger)] (episode link pending)

- , supra, at 928 at 928 [as printed: , supra, at 928; Opinion of the Court (Chief Justice Burger)] (episode link pending)

- Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976) at 118-124 [as printed: Buckley v. Valeo, supra, at 118-124; Dissent (Justice White)] episode

- Champlin Refining Co. v. Corporation Comm’n of Oklahoma, 286 U.S. 210 (1982) at 235 [as printed: Champlin Refining Co. v. Corporation Comm’n of Oklahoma, 286 U. S. 210, 235 (1932); Dissent (Justice White)] (episode link pending)

- Ashwander v. TVA, 297 U.S. 288 (1936) at 346 (Brandeis, J., concurring) [as printed: Ashwander v. TVA, 297 U. S. 288, 346 (1936) (Brandeis, J., concurring); Opinion of the Court (Chief Justice Burger)] (episode link pending)

- Cheng Fan Kwok v. INS, 392 U.S. 206 (1968) at 216 [as printed: Cheng Fan Kwok v. INS, 392 U. S. 206, 216 (1968); Opinion of the Court (Chief Justice Burger)] (episode link pending)

- Dastmalchi v. INS, 660 F.2d 880 (CA3 1981) [as printed: Dastmalchi v. INS, 660 F. 2d 880 (CA3 1981); Opinion of the Court (Chief Justice Burger)] (episode link pending)

- Kwok, supra [as printed: Kwok, supra; Opinion of the Court (Chief Justice Burger)] (episode link pending)

- , supra [as printed: , supra; Dissent (Justice White)] (episode link pending)

(+40 more named aloud; see the website)

Full list of 201 citations not read aloud: https://opinion-of-the-court.pages.dev/ep/072-immigration-naturalization-service-v-chadha