Supreme Court of the United States
Trump v. Anderson
March 4, 2024601 U.S. 100
Summary
The Supreme Court held that the Colorado Supreme Court erred in ordering former President Donald J. Trump excluded from the 2024 presidential primary ballot because the Constitution vests enforcement of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment in Congress, not the States. Accordingly, the Court reversed the Colorado judgment and affirmed that states lack authority to enforce Section 3 against federal officeholders.
Holding
- Whether a state may enforce Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to disqualify a candidate for federal office from its ballot.. No. States lack constitutional authority to enforce Section 3 against federal officeholders, including the President; only Congress may enforce the provision.
- Whether the political question doctrine bars judicial review of a Section 3 disqualification claim.. No. The claim is justiciable and not barred by the political question doctrine.
- Whether Congress must enact legislation under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment for enforcement of Section 3, thereby precluding state enforcement.. Yes. Enforcement of Section 3 requires congressional legislation; absent such legislation, states have no power to enforce the provision.
- Whether the Colorado Supreme Court’s order violates the Supremacy Clause and federalism principles.. Yes. The order is preempted by federal authority and conflicts with the Constitution’s allocation of power between the national government and the states.
Docket 23-719
Cited authorities
- 16 Stat. 143
- Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 1
- 16 Stat. 143
- 15 Stat. 427
- 15 Stat. 435
- 16 Stat. 143
- 35 Stat. 1153
- 62 Stat. 992