Ex parte Yarbrough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ex parte Yarbrough |
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| Argued January 23–24, 1884 Decided March 3, 1884 |
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| Full case name | ' |
| Citations | 110 U.S. 651 (more) |
| Holding | |
| Congress may prevent private individuals from interfering with the right to vote in federal elections. | |
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| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Miller, joined by unanimous |
| Laws applied | |
| Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution and the Fifteenth Amendment | |
Ex parte Yarbrough was an important decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1884. This case was about whether Congress had the power to stop people from interfering with the right to vote in national elections. The Court decided that Congress could protect this right.
The case involved a group of people who tried to stop an African-American man from voting. The Supreme Court said that their actions were against the law. This decision was one of the few times after the Reconstruction era that the Court strongly supported Congress's power to protect important civil rights.
Contents
Understanding the Right to Vote
Voting is a very important part of being a citizen in a democracy. It allows people to choose their leaders and have a say in how their country is run. In the United States, the right to vote is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Why Voting Matters for Everyone
For a long time, not everyone in the U.S. had the right to vote. After the American Civil War, new laws and amendments were added to the Constitution. These changes aimed to give more people, especially African-American men, the right to vote.
The Fifteenth Amendment's Promise
One of these key changes was the Fifteenth Amendment. It was added in 1870. This amendment says that the right to vote cannot be denied based on a person's race or color. It was a big step towards making sure all citizens could participate in elections.
The Yarbrough Case: Protecting Federal Elections
The Ex parte Yarbrough case came about because some people were trying to prevent others from voting. This happened even after the Fifteenth Amendment was passed. The case specifically looked at voting in federal elections, which are elections for national offices like the President or members of Congress.
What Happened in the Case
Jasper Yarbrough and seven other people were accused of trying to stop an African-American man from voting. They used force to prevent him from casting his ballot. This was a serious problem because it went against the idea of fair elections and the rights protected by the Constitution.
The Legal Question for the Supreme Court
The main question for the Supreme Court was whether Congress had the power to make laws that punished people who interfered with federal elections. Some argued that this was a state issue, not a federal one. However, the U.S. Constitution, in Article I, Section 4, gives Congress the power to make rules about federal elections.
The Supreme Court's Decision
The Supreme Court made a very important decision in Ex parte Yarbrough. The Court said that Congress does have the power to protect the right to vote in federal elections. This power comes from the Constitution itself.
Why the Decision Was Important
The Court's decision was unanimous, meaning all the judges agreed. They said that if people could just stop others from voting, then the whole idea of a fair election would be meaningless. The government needs to be able to protect the process.
Impact on Civil Rights
This case was a big win for civil rights. It showed that the federal government could step in to protect the voting rights of its citizens. Even though there were still many challenges ahead, Ex parte Yarbrough was a strong statement that interfering with someone's right to vote was against the law and could be punished. It helped to strengthen the idea that voting is a fundamental right that the government must protect.
