King v. Smith

King v. Smith

Argued April 23, 1968
Decided June 17, 1968
Full case name King, Commissioner, Department of Pensions and Security, et al. v. Smith et al.
Citations

392 U.S. 309 (more)

88 S. Ct. 2128; 20 L. Ed. 2d 1118
Holding
Aid to Families with Dependent Children cannot be denied to families of qualifying children based on a substitute father.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Earl Warren
Case opinions
Majority Warren, joined by Black, Harlan II., Brennan, Stewart, White, Fortas, Marshall
Concurrence Douglas
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King v. Smith, 392 U.S. 309 (1968), was a decision in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) could not be withheld because of the presence of a "substitute father" who visited a family on weekends. The issue before the US Supreme Court involved how the states could determine how to implement a federal program. The court used the term "co-operative federalism."

Background

Mrs. Sylvester Smith was a Dallas County, Alabama resident who had four children, without a biological father providing support. The father of three of her children had died and the father of her fourth child was not in the picture. Thus, she qualified for AFDC. She was, however, having an affair with a Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams had nine children of his own. Williams, who visited on weekends, was counted as a "substitute father", thus disqualifying the family for aid according to Alabama Law.

Decision

The Court held that the term "father" did not include substitute fathers because Williams was under no obligation to support Smith's children.

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