[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H3759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. SALMON:
       H.R. 2409.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Congress' authority to regulate congressional elections 
     derives primarily from Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the 
     Constitution (known as the Elections Clause). The Elections 
     Clause provides that the states will prescribe the ``Times, 
     Places and Manner'' of congressional elections, and that 
     Congress may ``make or alter'' the states' regulations at any 
     time, except as to the places of choosing Senators. The 
     courts have held that the Elections Clause grants Congress 
     broad authority to override state regulations in this area. 
     Therefore, while the Elections Clause contemplates both state 
     and federal authority to regulate congressional elections, 
     Congress' authority is paramount to that of the states.