less than 1 minute read

Powell v. McCormack

Significance, The Court Rulings, Moot Point, Making A Distinction, The Right To Run For Public Office



Petitioner

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

Respondent

John McCormack

Petitioner's Claim

That the House of Representatives had no constitutional right to exclude Powell, a member who met all constitutional requirements for office.

Chief Lawyers for Petitioner

Arthur Kinoy, Herbert O. Reid

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Bruce Bromley

Justices for the Court

Hugo Lafayette Black, William J. Brennan, Jr., William O. Douglas, Abe Fortas, John Marshall Harlan II, Thurgood Marshall, Earl Warren (writing for the Court), Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting

Potter Stewart

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

16 June 1969

Decision

Powell could not be excluded from the House by majority vote, because he met the qualifications of age, citizenship, and residence set down in the Constitution.

Related Cases

  • Kilbourn v. Thompson, 103 U.S. 168 (1881).
  • Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962).
  • Bond v. Floyd, 385 U.S. 116 (1966).

Sources

Scruton, Roger. A Dictionary of Political Thought, second edition. London: Macmillan, 1996.

Additional topics

Law Library - American Law and Legal InformationNotable Trials and Court Cases - 1963 to 1972