October Term 2023 · Docket 22-448
Does Congress violate the Constitution by funding an agency without setting a spending cap?
The CFPB argues its funding is constitutional. The industry group claims Congress broke the Appropriations Clause.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
General Prelogar argued the Fifth Circuit decision was historically unprecedented.
Mr. Francisco argued the case involves checks and balances.
argument_summary
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The CFPB argues its funding is constitutional. The industry group claims Congress broke the Appropriations Clause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
What each side wants
The CFPB wants the Court to uphold its funding.
The industry group wants the Court to strike down the funding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
What each side says
The CFPB argues Congress did not need to set a spending cap.
The industry group argues Congress must set a specific spending limit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the aggressive view of congressional authority.
Justice Gorsuch asked about the role of upper limits on spending.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-9
Why it matters
This case defines how Congress funds independent agencies. It shapes the balance of power between branches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-9
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.