Fall Research Expo 2020

Supreme Businesses: Impacts of Business Cases Since 1888

Abstract: Business law in the United States has come a long way from the Industrial Revolution. This essay analyzes landmark Supreme Court cases involving businesses since Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad in 1886 to show how they have impacted the rights of individuals. Since the initial recognition of businesses as individuals, they have been able to access rights and privileges enjoyed by people. This essay will analyze how businesses have accessed and impacted the rights and privileges to speech, free exercise and economic engagement. This essay uses teleological argumentation and a legal realist approach in order to examine the impacts that the cases discussed have had on individuals. All of this leads to a discussion of how the development of corporate personhood threatens the intrinsic nature of rights.

 

The Zoom Meeting password is 1234.

PRESENTED BY
Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (Wharton)
Wharton 2023
Advised By
Amanda Shanor
Professor
Join Charlene for a virtual discussion
PRESENTED BY
Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (Wharton)
Wharton 2023
Advised By
Amanda Shanor
Professor

Comments

Super cool research! I'm really interested in this idea that corporations can now buy political influence through avenues such as dark money after Citizens United. I'm wondering if you did any research on how much those campaign contributions actually changed the outcomes of elections. Does an individual donating matter more or does a company donating matter more? 

Hi Charlene, this is very interesting research. I read that monopolies can limit consumer activism and I had never thought about the validity in that statement. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how we, consumers, can combat the effects of monopolies, or if it is even possible in the current economical structure?

 

This is very fascinating research. I thought your point about money in politics was particularly interesting, as is the above question abut campaign contributors affecting elections. I was wondering if in your research you came across an example or precedent of this?

Wow. This was a good read. Do you have the full essay? I would like to read more about your findings. I think it is very relevant to study this now that we live in a world were  awareness can easily be spread through social media, and were the 'canceling' culture is rampant. I am curious as to whether monopolies who practice inhumane operations can be cancelled if a movement was started in favor of local and small businesses? 

This was such an informational poster and a great read. The idea of convenience and that affecting our ability to have agency over our consumption and our ability to engage in consumer activism was a big takeaway I had from your research. I was wondering if you had any more thoughts on citation expanding on the idea of consumer agency in a market controlled by a monopoly