elections clause

noun

variants or Elections Clause
: a clause in Article 1, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution that provides state legislatures with the power to regulate the time, place, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives and reserves for the U.S. Congress the power to alter the regulations

Examples of elections clause in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Morley also noted that any constitutional dispute tied to the elections clause could ultimately reach the Supreme Court after review by the Virginia courts. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026 The Supreme Court allowed the new maps to go into effect but also agreed to review the case to determine if the independent state legislature theory’s reading of the elections clause was correct. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 27 June 2023 But the elections clause only grants Congress authority to regulate election procedures, not voter qualifications. — John J. Martin, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026 And of course this is contrary to the Constitution, which specifically grants states the authority to run elections under Article 1, Section 4, the elections clause. — CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elections clause

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elections clause was in 1890

Rhymes for elections clause

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Browse Nearby Words

election posies
elections clause
elective
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Cite this Entry

“Elections clause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elections%20clause. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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