King v. Smith
Encyclopedia
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.
Mrs. Sylvester Smith was an 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. The Court held that the term "father" did not include substitute fathers.
The issue before the US Supreme Court was if the states could determine how to implement a federal program. The court used the term co-operative federalism.
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1968), was a decision in which the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
held that Aid to Families with Dependent Children
Aid to Families with Dependent Children
Aid to Families with Dependent Children was a federal assistance program in effect from 1935 to 1996, which was administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services...
(AFDC) could not be withheld because of the presence of a "substitute father" who visited a family on weekends.
Mrs. Sylvester Smith was an Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
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
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political 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. The Court held that the term "father" did not include substitute fathers.
The issue before the US Supreme Court was if the states could determine how to implement a federal program. The court used the term co-operative federalism.