How the Contracts Clause was gutted—and how SCOTUS’ early efforts to correct this have been ignored0

• December 17, 2013

The Constitution lists several things states may not do. Article I, Section 10 provides that “No State shall . . . pass any . . . law impairing the Obligation of Contracts.” This clause was inserted to curb state “debtor relief” laws that the Framers believed were immoral and rendered bad economic conditions worse. Founding-Era