§1314 Rights and Powers Retained by United States; Purchase of Natural Resources; Condemnation of Lands

Summary

The United States keeps its power to control and regulate navigation and navigable waters for trade, shipping, national defense, and international affairs. Those federal powers are stronger than state rights, but they do not mean the United States owns or takes away the ownership, management, leasing, use, or development rights that were given to the states. In wartime or when needed for national defense, and when Congress or the President says so, the United States has the first right to buy, at the prevailing market price, all or part of those natural resources, or to take and use any of the lands by following legal procedures and paying fair payment.