Chgnn b ECONOMIC RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES: EXPRESSING INDIVIDUALISM The te foundation of republicnn govermment is the egual right of every citizen,in his person dnh格p7opey. Thomos leferson n 1974 Allied Structural Steel closed down its operations in Minnesota.The Lclosing triggered the implementation of a Minnesota law requiring companies that go out of business in the state to secure the pension benefits of their laid-off employees.The law was enacted to prevent companies from absconding with pension funds that had been set aside for workers. Allied Steel sued the state of Minnesota,arguing that it was protected by the contract clause (in Article I,section 10)of the U.S.Constitution,which forbids a state to pass laws that impair"the obligation of contracts."Allied's contract with its workers stated that the company had sole discretion to determine the status of pension benefits.Allied contended that it could not be forced to provide pension benefits to its former employees.In Allied Strctural Steel v. Spwuiaus,the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Allied Steel's favor. Minnesota's law was judged to impair severely,not incidentally,on Allied's pension contract with employees and thus was concluded to violate the contract clause of the Constitution. The Allied case is an example of the stakes that can be involved in a dispute over property ights.Property rights are rights of ownership,use,and contract. Quoted in Catherine Drinker Bowen,Minacle at Philsdelpkis (Boston:Atlantic-Little,Brown,1966) 71-72. PAllied Struchurat Steet Co.v.Spannans,438 U.S.234 (1978) 117