Trump v. Anderson
Lower Court: Colorado Supreme Court • Last updated: March 4, 2024
Plain-Language Summary
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states cannot remove presidential candidates from the ballot under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. Colorado had tried to keep former President Trump off the primary ballot, arguing he engaged in insurrection on January 6th. The Court said only Congress, not individual states, has the power to enforce this provision against federal officeholders.
While all nine justices agreed on the result, four justices wrote separately to say the majority went too far in deciding how Section 3 can be enforced. They argued the Court should have stopped at saying states lack this power, without also saying Congress must pass specific legislation.
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Why This Matters
This decision settled a major constitutional question about who can enforce the Fourteenth Amendment's insurrection clause. It means no state can unilaterally disqualify a presidential candidate, ensuring uniform national elections. The ruling has implications for how the post-Civil War amendments are interpreted and enforced in modern politics.