Jody Robinson, age 14, of Concord, N.H., for her question:

WHAT WAS THE DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CASE?

The Dartmouth College Case, or Dartmouth College vs. Woodward, was a court case that upheld the constitutional freedom from unreasonable government interference with contracts. The Supreme Court of the United States decided this case in 1819.

The decision of the case helped protect the rights of private property and encouraged the development of the free enterprise system.

In 1769 King George III of Great Britain granted Dartmouth College a charter that was to last "forever." But in 1816 New Hampshire tried to make Dartmouth College the state university by canceling the charter.

Former trustees claimed the royal charter was still valid and they brought suit to recover the school seal and records from William Woodward, the college secretary. Daniel Webster, a graduate of Dartmouth, presented the trustees' case before the Supreme Court and the court ruled for the trustees, saying that the state had "impaired the obligation" of the charter.

Because of this case, legislatures today put time limitations in charters or include provisions allowing cancellation by the government under proper circumstances.