Plain-English summary
Court rules states cannot remove federal candidates under 14th Amendment Section 3; Colorado decision reversed
The Supreme Court unanimously reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that disqualified Donald J. Trump from the Colorado ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court held that enforcing that provision against federal officeholders and candidates is for Congress, not state courts or officials.
Why this matters
The decision clarifies who has the power to decide whether a federal officeholder or candidate is barred by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. By placing enforcement authority with Congress, the Court limits states’ ability to unilaterally remove federal candidates from ballots and centralizes the process at the federal level, affecting future challenges about disqualification for insurrection or rebellion.
Who may feel it
- Candidates for federal office (including presidential candidates)
- State election officials and state courts that review ballot eligibility
- Members of Congress and Congress’s procedures for judging qualifications
- Voters who face state-level disqualification actions
Key questions
- Who has the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment against federal officeholders and candidates — states or Congress?