In the Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. case, what was the motel's argument against the Civil Rights Act?

The argument presented by the Heart of Atlanta Motel against the Civil Rights Act centered on the characterization of their business as a small private entity that should not be subject to federal regulation. They contended that as a privately-owned business, they had the right to choose their customers and were not engaged in interstate commerce to the extent that would warrant federal intervention under the Civil Rights Act.

This claim is significant because it addresses the broader legal principle of whether a business's operations fall under the jurisdiction of federal law, especially in matters concerning civil rights and discrimination. The Heart of Atlanta Motel's reliance on the notion of being a small private business aimed to assert their autonomy and property rights in deciding whom to serve, thereby challenging the application of federal regulations aimed at preventing racial discrimination.

This case ultimately emphasized the legal interpretation of the Commerce Clause, which allows the federal government to regulate businesses engaged in interstate commerce and affirmed the constitutional basis for the Civil Rights Act's enforcement even in privately owned establishments.