Pike v. Bruce Church, Inc

In Pike v. Bruce Church, Inc. (1970) 397 U.S. 137, the United States Supreme Court set out the test for determining whether a state statute violates the commerce clause. "Where the statute regulates even-handedly to effectuate a legitimate local public interest, and its effects on interstate commerce are only incidental, it will be upheld unless the burden imposed on such commerce is clearly excessive in relation to the putative local benefits. If a legitimate local purpose is found, then the question becomes one of degree. And the extent of the burden that will be tolerated will of course depend on the nature of the local interest involved, and on whether it could be promoted as well with a lesser impact on interstate activities." (Id. at p. 142.)