Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution

E95267

Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution is the Elections Clause, which allocates authority over the times, places, and manner of holding federal elections primarily to state legislatures, subject to alteration by Congress.


Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Elections Clause
constitutional provision
allocatesAuthorityTo state legislatures
allocatesPrimaryResponsibilityTo states for regulating federal election mechanics
appliesTo elections for members of the United States House of Representatives
elections for members of the United States Senate
federal elections
authorizesCongressTo preempt conflicting state election regulations for congressional elections
basisFor federal oversight of state administration of congressional elections
bindingOn all U.S. states
cameIntoForceOn 1789-03-04
citedInCase Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission NERFINISHED
Cook v. Gralike NERFINISHED
Ex parte Siebold NERFINISHED
Foster v. Love NERFINISHED
Smiley v. Holm NERFINISHED
U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton NERFINISHED
concerns procedural aspects of federal elections
constitutionalCategory elections and representation
doesNotApplyTo presidential elector appointment methods
qualifications of members of Congress
substantive voter qualifications
enforcedThrough federal legislation and judicial review
excludesFromCongressPower the Places of choosing Senators
federalismFeature creates concurrent authority of states and Congress over federal election regulations
governs Manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives
Places of holding elections for Senators and Representatives
Times of holding elections for Senators and Representatives
grantsPowerTo Congress to make or alter regulations for congressional elections
state legislatures to prescribe regulations for congressional elections
hasShortName Elections Clause NERFINISHED
historicalContext adopted at the Constitutional Convention of 1787
interpretedBy Supreme Court of the United States NERFINISHED
jurisdiction United States federal government
languageSpecifies "but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations"
legalEffect creates a default rule of state control subject to congressional revision
partOf Article I of the United States Constitution NERFINISHED
United States Constitution NERFINISHED
primaryPurpose to allocate authority over regulation of federal elections between states and Congress
relatedTo Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution NERFINISHED
Article I, Section 3 of the United States Constitution NERFINISHED
Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution NERFINISHED
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution NERFINISHED
reservesUltimateAuthorityTo Congress over federal election regulations
subjectToAlterationBy United States Congress NERFINISHED
textBeginsWith "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives"
usedToJustify federal laws on ballot design and election procedures for federal offices
federal laws on the timing of congressional elections
federal laws on voter registration for federal elections
federal statutes regulating the mechanics of congressional elections

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Shelby County v. Holder
hasConstitutionalProvisionInvolved
National Voter Registration Act ("Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution")
legalBasis

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