Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States
Oklahoma v. United States Civil Service Commission
67 S. Ct. 544
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 1947-02-10
- Topic
- general
recognizing that a court granted jurisdiction by statute to review the legality of administrative orders is also empowered to examine the constitutionality of the statute by virtue of which such orders were entered. | finding that the question whether to remove a state officer or employee as a penalty for violating the Hatch Act “is a matter of administrative discretion” | explaining that the federal government “does have the power to fix the terms upon which its money allotments to states shall be disbursed” | allowing Congress to require federally-funded state governmental entities to adhere to the Hatch Act despite Congress' inability to regulate local politics | allowing Congress to require federally-funded state governmental entities to adhere to the Hatch Act despite Congress’ inability to regulate local politics | withholding of highway funds conditioned on removal of a member of the highway commission of state | upholding constitutionality of U.S. Civil Service Commission order under Hatch Act, 53 Stat. 1147, requiring removal from office of federally financed state employees engaged in state politics | withholding of highway funds conditioned on removal of a member of the highway commission of state | withholding of highway funds conditioned on removal of a member of the highway commission of state | upholding condition withholding highway funds from state when highway official violated Hatch Act's prohibition against participating in political campaign | upholding decision to remove federal highway funds from Oklahoma for violations of the Hatch Act, where employee was member of the State Highway Commission while chairman of state Central Democratic Committee | upholding condition withholding highway funds from state when highway official violated Hatch Act’s prohibition against participating in political campaign | stating that the Administrative Pro- cedure Act’s (APA’s | stating that the Administrative Pro- cedure Act’s (APA’s | “The offer of benefits to a state by the United States dependent upon cooperation by the state with federal plans ... is not unusual.” (emphasis added) | "The offer of benefits to a state by the United States dependent upon cooperation by the state with federal plans ... is not unusual." (emphasis added) | “[T]he United States is not concerned with, and has no power to regulate, local political activities as such of state officials .... ” | “The end sought by Congress through the Hatch Act is better public service by requiring those who administer funds for national needs to abstain from active political partisanship.” | “The end sought by Congress through the Hatch Act is better public service by requiring those who administer funds for national needs to abstain from active political partisanship.” | "The offer of benefits to a state by the United States dependent upon cooperation by the state with federal plans . . . is not unusual." (emphasis added) | highway funds withheld if member of State Highway Commission held office in political party | highway funds withheld if member of State Highway Commission held office in political party | "None [of the cases cited by the government] deny to a court with jurisdiction by statute to review the legality of administrative orders the power to examine the constitutionality of the statute by virtue of which the order was entered." | “[n]one [of the cases cited by the government] deny to a court with jurisdiction by statute to review the legality of administrative orders the power to examine the constitutionality of the statute by virtue of which the order was entered” | upholding constitutionality of Hatch Act | upholding constitutionality of Hatch Act
Citator
- Cited by
- 134 opinions
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This proceeding brings to this Court* another phase of the Hatch Act. The petitioner, the State of Oklahoma, objects to the enforcement by the United States Civil Service Commission of § 12 (a) of the Act.1
“This dinner was designed to provide the National Democratic Committee and the State Democratic Committee with funds to discharge a deficit incurred by their political activities and to provide funds for contemplated future activities. It also promoted the sale of war bonds and did result in the sale of approximately $14,500,000.00 in war bonds. The dinner netted the Democratic party, which was conceded to be a political party, approximately $30,000.00. The dinner was staged under the general supervision of the Governor of the state and the details were handled by a committee appointed by the Governor. W. G. Johnston was chairman of this committee. France Paris was an ex officio member of the committee and he advised with the Governor concerning the dinner and called the meeting to order and introduced the toastmaster, but he was not active in planning or arranging the dinner.”
Pursuant to § 12 (c) the State of Oklahoma, after having received notice of the Civil Service Commission’s determination, instituted these proceedings for the review of the order in the proper district court of the United States. That court upheld the action of the Civil Service Commission, 61 F. Supp. 355, and this action was affirmed by the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. State of Oklahoma v. United States Civil Service Commission, 153 F. 2d 280. Certiorari was sought and allowed because of the importance of the issues involved in the administration of justice, 328 U. S. 831, under § 12 (c), 53 Stat. 1147, as amended, 54 Stat. 767, and § 240a of the Judicial Code.
The state contends that the judgments below are invalid for the following reasons:
“(1) The Hatch Political Activity Act, in so far as it attempts to regulate the internal affairs of a state, is an invasion of the sovereignty of the states in violation of the United States Constitution. It further is invalid as an unlawful delegation of power.
“(2) If valid, the Act applies only to ‘active’ participation in political management or political campaigns. Such ‘active’ participation is not shown to be present in this case.
*134 “(3) If valid, the Act did not warrant the United States Civil Service Commission in ordering the removal of a state officer or, alternatively, the application of a penalty to the State of Oklahoma.
“(4) The decisions of the lower courts place an intolerable and unjustified restriction upon the right of an aggrieved person to a complete judicial review under the Hatch Political Activity Act.”
First. The Government’s first contention is that the petitioner, the State of Oklahoma, has no standing to attack the constitutionality of § 12. It is argued that the state has no legal capacity to question the manner in which the United States limits the appropriation of funds through § 12 (a); that § 12 (b) is merely procedural to assure that the statutory requirements are observed and that § 12 (c) is a safeguard against the exercise of arbitrary power by the Commission, not a permission to wage an attack on the entire arrangement.2
If this contention is treated as an objection to the state’s capacity to bring this suit, as no objection was made until the memorandum for the respondent on the petition for certiorari, it would be out of time. A failure to object in the trial court to a party’s capacity is a waiver of that defect. Parker v. Motor Boat Sales, 314 U. S. 244, 251. On the other hand, if the contention is treated as meaning that no justiciable controversy as to the constitutionality of § 12 (a) exists because petitioner suffers no in jury which it may protect legally from the withdrawal by the United States of a portion of a grant-in-aid, the objection, as it questions judicial power to act on that point, is timely although first made in this Court.3 We think that the
The issue is whether Oklahoma can challenge the constitutionality of § 12 on statutory review of a Commission order. Subsection (c) gives to any party aggrieved a judicial review of the Commission order. The review is \ on the entire record and extends to questions of fact and \ questions of law. The order is to be affirmed if the court determines that it is “in accordance with law.” If the court determines the order is not in accordance with law, the proceeding is to be remanded to the Commission “with directions either to make such determination or order as the court shall determine to be in accordance with law or to take such further proceedings as, in the opinion of the court, the law requires.”4 We think the challenge can be made in these review proceedings to the constitutionality of the law upon which the order under review is predicated. . . .
The activities of the Highway Commission of Oklahoma were financed in part by loans and grants from a federal agency during all the pertinent times. This was the organization of which Paris was a member. During the period in question, January 15, 1943, to October 18, 1943, while Paris was also Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, the United States through allotment by federal statute contributed over $2,000,000 for the highway work of the Oklahoma Commission.5 Nothing indicates that these sums were to be received by Oklahoma otherwise than in accordance with regular statutory appor
Congress has power to fix the conditions for review of administrative orders.9 By providing for judicial review of the orders of the Civil Service Commission, Congress made Oklahoma’s right to receive funds a matter of judicial cognizance. Oklahoma’s right became legally enforceable. Interference with the payment of the full allotment of federal highway funds to Oklahoma made the statutory proceeding to set aside the order a case or controversy between Oklahoma and the Commission, whose order Oklahomawas authorized to chanenge.10 A reading of § 12 will show the special interest Oklahoma had in preventing the exercise of the Civil Service Commission’s power to direct that Oklahoma’s funds be withheld.11 It was named as the employer affected by § 12 (a). Notices were sent to it. Funds allotted to Oklahoma were to be withheld "under certain conditions. It was a “party aggrieved.”12 When it brought this suit, under this statu
The cases cited by the Government as pointing toward lack of power to adjudicate the constitutionality of § 12
We do not think the rule that one may not in the same proceeding both rely upon and assail a statute14 is applicable to the present situation. In the cases the.Govern
From this point of view, the respondent urges that the Congress did not intend to create a justiciable right broad enough to include an attack upon the constitutionality of § 12 (a). We think the final sentence of § 12 (c), note 1 supra, comes near to demonstrating the unsoundness of such a contention. It reads:
“If any provision of this subsection is held to be invalid as applied to any party with respect to any-determination or order of the Commission, such determination or order shall thereupon become final and effective as to such party in the same manner as if such provision had not been enacted.”
We do not see that this sentence can mean anything other than that the invalidity (unconstitutionality) of any provision of subsection 12 (b) should not affect the determination of the Civil Service Commission. In view of our conclusion hereinafter expressed that § 12 (a) is constitutional, whether the Commission’s determination would be enforceable without a particular statutory provision is not involved in this case.
The Government urges that the absence of legislative consideration of attacks on the constitutionality of § 12 through the provision for judicial review negatives “the conclusion that Congress intended Section 12 (c) as an avenue of attack on Section 12 (a).”15 But we do not agree that this lack of extended discussion of the scope of the judicial review by implication denies to a litigant the right to attack constitutionality. The final form of
Second. Petitioner’s chief reliance for its contention that § 12 (a) of the Hatch Act is unconstitutional as applied to Oklahoma in this proceeding is that the so-called penalty provisions invade the sovereignty bf a state in such a way as to violate the Tenth Amendment18 by providing for “possible forfeiture of state office or alternative penalties against the state.” Oklahoma says § 12 (c) “provides that the commencement of an appeal from an order of the Commission: ‘. . . shall not operate as a stay of such determination or order unless (1) it is specifically so ordered by the court, and (2) such officer or employee is suspended from his office or employment during the pendency of such proceedings. . . .’” The coercive effect of the authorization to withhold sums allocated to a state is relied upon as an interference with the reserved powers of the state.
In United Public Workers v. Mitchell, decided this day, ante, p. 75, we have considered the constitutionality of this provision from the viewpoint of interference with a federal employee’s freedom of expression in political matters and as to whether acting as an official of a political party violates the provision in § 12 (a) against taking part in political management or in political campaigns. We do not think that the facts in this case require any further discussion of that angle. We think that acting as chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee and acting, ex off do, as a member of the “Victory Dinner” committee for the purpose of raising funds for the Democratic Party and for selling war bonds constitute taking an active
The Tenth Amendment does not forbid the exercise of this power in the way that Congress has proceeded in this case. As pointed out in United States v. Darby, 312 U. S. 100, 124, the Tenth Amendment has been consistently construed “as not depriving the national government of authority to resort to all means for the exercise of a granted power which are appropriate and plainly adapted to the permitted end.” The end sought by Congress through the Hatch Act is better public service by requiring those who administer funds for national needs to abstain from active political partisanship. So even though the action taken by Congress does have effect upon certain activities within the state, it has never been thought that such effect made the federal act invalid.19 As nothing in this record shows any attempt to suspend Mr. Paris from his duties as a member of the State Highway Commission, we are not called upon to deal with the assertion of Oklahoma that a state officer may be suspended by a federal court if § 12 is valid. There is an adequate separability clause. No penalty was imposed upon the state. A hearing was had, conformably to § 12, and the conclusion was reached that Mr. Paris’ active participation in politics justified his removal from membership on the Highway Commission. Oklahoma chose not to remove him. We do not see any violation of the state’s sovereignty in the hearing or order. Oklahoma adopted the “simple expedient” of not yielding to what she urges is
In order to give the Civil Service Commission adequate standards to measure active participation in political activities, Congress adopted § 15 of the Hatch Act, quoted above in note 1. By this section Congress made the test of political activity for state employees the same as the test then in effect for employees in the classified civil service. The Commission had at that time determined that “service on or for any political committee or similar organization is prohibited.” This could only mean that service on such a committee was active participation in politics. Such determination was made a matter of record by Senator Hatch in charge of the bill during debate on the scope of political prohibition.21 Obviously the activities of Mr. Paris were covered by the purpose and language of § 12. The words of § 12 (a) requiring Mr. Paris’ abstention from “any active part in political management or political campaigns” are derived from Rule I of the Civil Service Commission and have persisted there since 1907.22
Oklahoma also argues that the Civil Service Commission determination that the acts of Mr. Paris constitute such a violation of § 12 (a) as to warrant his removal from his state office is not in accordance with law but arbitrary, unreasonable and an abuse of discretion. The facts of Mr.
Finally, petitioner says that § 12 (c), note 1, supra, authorizes a review of “every minute detail of the case” to “determine whether sufficient facts exist to support the order of the Commission, decide whether the statute has been reasonably and justly applied, and independently resolve the entire question as though the federal court had been the forum in the first instance.” The basis for this argument, in so far as it differs from that referred to in the preceding paragraph, is drawn from the language of § 12 (c) that “The review by the court shall be on the record entire, including all of the evidence taken on the hearing, and shall extend to questions of fact and questions of law. . . . The court shall affirm the Commission’s determination or order, or its modified determination or order, if the court determines that the same is in accordance with law.” As the facts were stipulated and no objection has been taken to the findings of fact, 61 F. Supp. 355, 357 (5); 153 F. 2d 280, 283, the attack, on this issue, is limited to an examination into whether or not the Commission abused its discretion in the order of removal. As heretofore stated, the provisions for review underwent changes during the passage of the Act.24 As finally
Judgment affirmed.
Mr. Justice Murphy and Mr. Justice Jackson took no part in the consideration or decision of this case. Mr. Justice Black and Mr. Justice Rutledge dissent.See United Public Workers v. Mitchell, decided today, ante, p. 75.
53 Stat. 1147, as amended, 54 Stat. 767:
“Sec. 12. (a) No officer or employee of any State or local agency whose principal employment is in connection with any activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States or by any Federal agency shall . . . take any active part in political management or in political campaigns. . . .
“(b) If any Federal agency charged with the duty of making any loan or grant of funds of the United States for use in any activity by any officer or employee to whom the provisions of subsection (a) are applicable has reason to believe that any such officer or employee has violated the provisions of such subsection, it shall make a report with respect thereto to the United States Civil Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Commission’). Upon the receipt of any such report, or upon the receipt of any other information which seems to the Commission to warrant an investigation, the Commission shall fix a time and place for a hearing, and shall by registered mail
“(c) Any party aggrieved by any determination or order of the Commission under subsection (b) may, within thirty days after the mailing of notice of such determination or order, institute proceedings for the review thereof by filing a written petition in the district court of the United States for the district in which such officer or employee resides; but the commencement of such proceedings shall not operate as a stay of such determination or order unless (1) it is specifically so ordered by the court, and (2) such officer or employee is suspended from his office or employment during the pendency of such proceedings. A copy of such petition shall forthwith be served upon the Commission, and thereupon the Commission shall certify and file in
“Sec. 15. The provisions of this Act which prohibit persons to whom such provisions apply from taking any active part in political management or in political campaigns shall be deemed to prohibit the same activities on the part of such persons as the United States Civil Service Commission has heretofore determined are at the time this section takes effect prohibited on the part of employees in the classified civil service of the United States by the provisions of the civil-service rules prohibiting such employees from taking any active part in political management or in political campaigns.”
Massachusetts v. Mellon, 262 U. S. 447, 482; Perkins v. Lukens Steel Co., 310 U. S. 113; Alabama Power Co. v. Ickes, 302 U. S. 464, 479, are cited as authority, together with other cases.
A respondent can support his judgment on any ground that appears in the record. LeTulle v. Scofield, 308 U. S. 415, 421; Gainesville v. Brown-Crummer Co., 277 U. S. 54, 59.
See note 1, supra, § 12 (c).
See Federal Highway Act, 42 Stat. 212, as amended, 23 U. S. C. § 1-117.
Cf. Columbia System v. United States, 316 U. S. 407, 422.
See Deitrick v. Greaney, 309 U. S. 190, 198, 200-201; Steele v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co., 323 U. S. 192, 202.
See the discussion in Colegrove v. Green, 328 U. S. 549.
American Power Co. v. S. E. C., 325 U. S. 385, 389.
Federal Power Commission v. Pacific Power & Light Co., 307 U. S. 156, 159.
Chicago Junction Case, 264 U. S. 258, 266 (Second); Z. & F. Assets Realization Corp. v. Hull, 311 U. S. 470, 485.
Federal Power Commission v. Pacific Power & Light Co., 307 U. S. 156, 159; Federal Communications Commission v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station, 309 U. S. 470, 476; American Power Co. v. S. E. C., 325 U. S. 385, 390; Parker v. Fleming, 329 U. S. 531,
Cf. Labor Board v. Jones & Laughlin, 301 U. S. 1, 25, 43, 49; Norwegian Nitrogen Products Co. v. United States, 288 U. S. 294, 321-24; United States v. Ruzicka, 329 U. S. 287, 294.
Judicial review normally includes issues of the constitutionality of enactments and action thereunder. 60 Stat. 237, 243, § 10 (e):
“Scope of Review.—So far as necessary to decision and where presented the reviewing court shall decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and determine the meaning or applicability of the terms of any agency action. It shall (A) compel agency action unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed; and (B) hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions found to be (1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; (2) contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity; (3) in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, or short of statutory right; (4) without observance of procedure required by law; (5) unsupported by substantial evidence in any case subject to the requirements of sections 7 and 8 or otherwise reviewed on the record of an agency hearing provided by statute; or (6) unwarranted by the facts to the extent that the facts are subject to trial de novo by the reviewing court. In making the foregoing determinations the court shall review the whole record or such portions thereof as may be cited by any party, and due account shall be taken of the rule of prejudicial error.”
See the full discussion of the “Scope of Review,” Legislative History, Administrative Procedure Act, S. Doc. No. 248, 79th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 213, (e), and p. 278, § 10 (e).
See Hurley v. Commission of Fisheries, 257 U. S. 223; United Fuel Gas Co. v. Railroad Commission of Kentucky, 278 U. S. 300; Great Falls Mfg. Co. v. Attorney General, 124 U. S. 581.
It cites 86 Cong. Rec. 2354, 2429, 2440, 2468-2474, 9448, 9452; H. Rep. 2376, 76th Cong., 3d Sess., p. 9.
86 Cong. Rec. 2470:
“Mr. Lucas. I have great respect for the opinions of the Senator from Nebraska. I rise to ask him a question: Does the Senator from Nebraska believe that the question -of political liberty is involved in the pending legislation in any way?
“Mr. Norris. I have not thought so.
“Mr. Lucas. In other words, the Senator does not believe that the political rights of an individual who is charged with violation of the statute are being invaded ?
“Mr. Norris. Mr. President, I now understand the Senator’s question. I do not believe so. Some honest men who are better lawyers than I am believe those rights are invaded. That question can easily be tested, however, without having the amendment adopted and passed upon. If the political rights of an individual were invaded, then the law would be unconstitutional, and one could get into court immediately by various kinds of applications. The question could be placed before a court and carried to the Supreme Court and that Court could pass upon it. The adoption of the particular amendment in question would not assist in that respect. If the law is unconstitutional, it will be so found very soon, even without the adoption of this amendment, and the law will fall.
“Mr. Lucas. But if the Senator from Nebraska entertains the same view as that entertained by the Senator from Illinois with respect to the invasion of the political rights of an individual, then, I take it, the Senator from Nebraska will agree that in case an individual were charged with violation of the statute he should have his rights determined by the court of last resort?
“Mr. Norris. I agree with the Senator. But we do not need this amendment in order to get a decision on the matter. That is my contention. We could not put anything into the law, however ingenious we might be, which would take away the constitutional rights of any citizen, and if such an attempt were made the citizen could go into court and have the question determined, even without the adoption of language such as contained in the pending amendment.”
See 86 Cong. Rec. 9446, 9495.
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Veazie Bank v. Fenno, 8 Wall. 533, 547; Stearns v. Minnesota, 179 U. S. 223, 244; Florida v. Mellon, 273 U. S. 12; Helvering v. Therrell, 303 U. S. 218; Wright v. Union Central Ins. Co., 304 U. S. 502, 516; Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority, 297 U. S. 288, 338.
Steward, Machine Co. v. Davis, 301 U. S. 548, 593-98; United States v. Bekins, 304 U. S. 27, 51-54. A review of grants-in-aid will be found in 8 American Law School Review, Corwin: National-State Cooperation, 687, 698.
86 Cong. Rec. 2938, § 15 of exhibit.
See United Public Workers v. Mitchell, ante, pp. 79-81, notes 4, 5 and 6.
See Jacob Siegel Co. v. Federal Trade Commission, 327 U. S. 608.
See 86 Cong. Rec. 2468-2474; S. 3046 in the House of Representatives, Union Calendar No. 924, June 4, 1940, pp. 4 and 17; H. Rep. No. 2376, 76th Cong., 3d Sess., p. 9. The amendment which resulted in the present form of the section appears at 86 Cong. Rec. 9448.
The following also appears in the section:
“The Commission may modify its, findings of fact or its determination or order by reason of the additional evidence so taken and shall file with the court such modified findings, determination, or order, and any such modified findings of fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.” 54 Stat. 767, 769.