The Mistretta case involved a challenge to the constitutionality of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, which created the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent body within the judicial branch which had the authority to establish sentencing guidelines for all federal crimes. At least three of the commission’s seven members were to be federal judges selected by the president. The petitioner challenged the act on the grounds that it violated the principle of separation of powers by unconstitutionally delegating the legislative power to the judicial branch. The Supreme Court upheld the act, holding that the creation of the Sentencing Commission did not intrude on the separation of powers because Congress had given the commission sufficient guidance on how to carry out its delegated tasks.

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