Katzenbach v. Morgan
United States Supreme Court
384 U.S. 641 (1966)
Congress's 1965 Voting Rights Act included § 4(e), which barred denying the vote to anyone who completed sixth grade in a Puerto Rico-accredited school taught in a language other than English, based on an inability to read or write English. New York's election law, however, required all voters to read and write English. Morgan and other New York City voters (plaintiffs) sued Katzenbach (defendant), the federal official enforcing § 4(e), arguing it unconstitutionally overrode valid state election requirements. A three-judge district court agreed and struck down § 4(e); Katzenbach appealed directly to the Supreme Court.
Whether Congress may pass legislation to enforce the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment even when that legislation conflicts with state law.