The Bankruptcy Clause delimits Congress’s bankruptcy power, but its limits changed after ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Before, it enabled collective creditor remedies against merchant debtors; after, it provided relief to insolvent debtors threatened by economic oppression. Recognizing this development supplies new constitutional grounds for bankruptcy law’s “fresh start” policy.

 

中文翻译：

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重构破产权力：一种原始主义的方法

破产条款界定了国会的破产权，但其限制在第十三修正案获得批准后发生了变化。以前，它允许集体债权人对商人债务人进行补救；此后，它为受到经济压迫威胁的破产债务人提供救济。认识到这一发展为破产法的“重新开始”政策提供了新的宪法依据。