In the case of United Steelworkers of America v. United States et al., 1959, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government and against a labor union that had gone on strike. The steel industry was deemed vital to national defense during the Korean War, so President Truman ordered Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to seize control over most steel mills in order to prevent a work stoppage. The United Steelworkers Union argued this seizure was unconstitutional as it bypassed Congress's authority to regulate commerce and violated property rights without due process or just compensation. However, Justice Hugo Black delivered an opinion stating that under certain circumstances - such as war - presidential power could be extended beyond its usual limits for public safety reasons. This ruling affirmed executive power during times of crisis but also emphasized checks and balances by noting that any extension should not infringe upon powers specifically granted by Constitution to other branches.

In the dissenting opinion for United Steelworkers of America v. United States, Justice Black argued that the majority's decision to uphold a federal injunction against a steelworker strike was an overreach of judicial power and violated constitutional separation of powers principles. He contended that only Congress has the authority to authorize such an injunction under its commerce regulation powers, not the President or courts. Furthermore, he asserted that there were no legal grounds for considering this case as one involving national security since it was essentially about labor disputes between private parties - steel companies and their employees. Therefore, according to him, invoking national emergency provisions in this context amounted to unwarranted interference with workers' rights protected by federal labor laws. In his view, allowing executive orders or court rulings based on vague notions of public interest would set dangerous precedents undermining democratic governance and rule of law.