The Constitution and Business Regulations

This month we celebrate our country’s independence and the many freedoms that come along with it. In doing so, are you aware of all of the freedoms that you have? What about the rules and regulations that come into play when running your business? Many people know about basic freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to vote, and more, but as a business attorney what I also find important are the business regulations that are not so often brought to light.

For example, there is a major part of the Constitution that affects businesses in particular. It can be found in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 and is known more commonly as the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This Clause often serves as a basis for laws and regulations related to commerce between different states. Although this is only one of the constitutional provisions that affect businesses, it is likely to be the law that most people think of first.

Nonetheless, the more well-known freedoms identified in the Constitution are also all applicable to business in their own ways. For example, freedom of speech extends not only on an individual level but also to your business’ message, voice, and how you market your products. It has also been applied to a corporation’s right to make political campaign contributions.

While it is crucial to follow the laws that exist to regulate businesses no matter where they appear, not all of these laws and regulations are as well-known or clear as those that appear in the Constitution. This extends into contracts that you may be signing, the vendors you work with, and even laws put in place to protect your business from harm. Having a legal professional there to guide you in legal matters can be a key part of your business dealings so that you can rely them to help you through the legalities of running your business while you focus on building your success.

The information presented here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.