1. The Food and Fuel Control Act

2. What is it?
In August of 1917, Congress enacted a “law that
among other things, created the United States Food
Administration, and the Federal Fuel Administration.” 1
In addition to these to things, it also banned the
production of any type of alcoholic drink from any
food products. It served to “1. Assure the supply,
distribution, and conservation of food during the war,
2. Facilitate transportation of food and prevent
monopolies and hoarding, and 3. Maintain
governmental power over foods by using voluntary
agreements and a licensing system.”2

3. So... What did I just read?
So, the Food administration. Basically, it was an
organization that was led by President Hoover. It was
in charge of the three listed things in the past slide,
which were, to make sure that food was being
distributed to everyone during World War I, to make
sure food was transported properly, and that no one
hoarded it, and to get government power over food by
the use of voluntary agreements.

4. Unconstitutional?
The president, being the head of the food
administration, had the power to regulate all food in
the US. With that power, Hoover banned any creating
of alcohol drinks, he set price limits on food products.
It made hoarding food and fuel a crime, it caused the
president to have the authority to regulate all prices.
This takes people's ability to set prices for their own
products away. It took away the freedom to get a
backup storage of goods for personal use.

5. Punishments
The punishment for breaking this law was a fee of
10,000 dollars, or 4 years in prison, or both.

6. I find this to be very unconstitutional.
1. It took a person's right to sell their product at their
own price away.
2. It limited a person's storage capabilities.
3. It was mandatory, that if the president said so, a
company had to sell their products only to the United
States, taking their right to refuse to sell to an
organization they desire.
4. The president can take over a company if they fail to
comply with the regulations. In other words, if a
company doesn't like the prices set, the company can
be taken away.
5. In the bill, the wording never limited the power to
just “between the states.” It was all prices.

7. Sources:
● Wikipedia page on Food and Fuel Control Act
● Www.archives.gov - page on the Food and Fuel
Control Act
● Wikisource, the actual Act document.