Citizenship Cases

Citizenship Cases are the key cases concerning the power of Congress to authorization revocation of citizenship under certain conditions, such as commission of a crime:

• Trop v. Dulles (1958) (4-1-4), with Justice William Brennan providing the key concurrence with the liberal majority.

• Perez v. Brownell (1958) (5-4) when Justice William Brennan joined the conservative majority, decided the same day as Trop.

• Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), overruling Brownell.

Chief Justice Warren and Justices Black, Douglas, Fortas, Marshall voted to declare these laws unconstitutional, and were eventually joined by Justice Brennan.

Justices Frankfurter, Harlan, Clark, Stewart, White voted to uphold these laws.