LGLS cases

Fletcher v. Peck (1810)

A Supreme Court case that held that a state legislature cannot rescind a land grant made by a previous legislature without violating the Contract Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Contract Clause

Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits states from passing laws that impair the obligation of contracts.

Innocent third parties

Individuals who purchase property without knowledge of corruption in the original transaction and are protected under the law.

Rescinding act

Legislation that cancels a previous grant or agreement, deemed unconstitutional if it violates contract obligations.

Supremacy of the Constitution

The principle that federal law supersedes state law and that states cannot override federal constitutional protections.

Chief Justice John Marshall

The influential Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who emphasized the importance of constitutional protections in his opinions.

Vested property rights

Guaranteed ownership rights in property that cannot be retroactively invalidated or impaired by subsequent legislation.

Bribery in legislatures

Unlawful practice of influencing legislators through illicit means to pass specific laws, critical in the context of Fletcher v. Peck.

Unconstitutional impairment

When a law negatively affects the validity of contracts, violating constitutional protections.

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to examine laws and actions to determine whether they are consistent with the Constitution.