federal instrumentality exemption
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 76 U.S. 353 - National Bank v. Commonwealth · 1869Most cited · 370 citing opinions
The agencies of the Federal government are only exempted from State legislation, so far as that legislation may interfere with, or impair their efficiency in performing the functions by which they are designed to serve that government. Any other rule would convert a principle founded alone in the necessity of securing to the government of the United States the means of exercising its legitimate powers, into an unauthorized and unjustifiable invasion of the rights of the States.