--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Constitution rightly commits the…" description: "\"The Constitution rightly commits the authority of state elections to state legislatures, not Congress, but Congress must protect the Electoral College ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg" --- # The Constitution rightly commits the authority of state… ![“The Constitution rightly commits the authority of state elections to state legislatures, not Congress, but Congress must protect the Electoral College and should not subsidize an unconstitutional process in which state election laws are trampled on, like we saw in some states in 2020.” quote by Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg) > “The Constitution rightly commits the authority of state elections to state legislatures, not Congress, but Congress must protect the Electoral College and should not subsidize an unconstitutional process in which state election laws are trampled on, like we saw in some states in 2020.” [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. State election authority belongs to legislatures, yet Congress must safeguard the Electoral College and avoid funding unconstitutional state practices. **In simple terms:** States run elections, but federal oversight protects the system. Key Takeaway Balance state control with federal safeguards. Themes federalism electoral integrity constitutional law Mood cautious analytical Type legal political When to use this quote - election reform - policy making - judicial review - public advocacy - null Key Concepts political science law governance Questions to Reflect On - Should federal standards override state election rules? - How can the Electoral College be protected without overreach? A Different Perspective Political pressure may limit Congress’s ability to intervene. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections-state-3790167/) [Electoral college](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electoral-college/) [Legislatures Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislatures-congress-3790168/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Electoral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-electoral-3790166/) [State legislatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-legislatures/) ## Related quotes > [Florida is a state made famous to most Americans by its sunny beaches, Disney and visiting retired grandparents. But Florida's place in America's elections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/florida-is-a-state-made-famous-to-most-americans-by-its-sunny-beaches/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [ They \[Nicaragua\] haven't had elections because they are in a state of seige by the United States. They would have had elections if the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/they-nicaragua-haven-t-had-elections-because-they-are-in-a-state-of/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Let me be clear: My purpose is not to put Congress in charge of state elections. That's the opposite of what I want.The Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/let-me-be-clear-my-purpose-is-not-to-put-congress-in-charge-of-state/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Democrats are not a national party. They have lost governorships, state legislatures, mayoralties. They have lost 1,500 seats since elections, 2010, '12, '14, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/democrats-are-not-a-national-party-they-have-lost-governorships-state/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We must safeguard future elections and the sanctity of the Electoral College, so that states like Tennessee always have an important voice in deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/we-must-safeguard-future-elections-and-the-sanctity-of-the-electoral/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [In the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore got more votes than George W. Bush, but still lost the election. The Supreme Court's ruling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/in-the-2000-presidential-election-al-gore-got-more-votes-than-george/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [Donald Trump was tainted every kind of way you could imagine. I mean, no way in the world that Donald Trump is a champion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/donald-trump-was-tainted-every-kind-of-way-you-could-imagine-i-mean/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In the 2012 election, the polls that had made Mitt Romney so confident that he was going to win were his own internal polls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/in-the-2012-election-the-polls-that-had-made-mitt-romney-so-confident/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [Even without voting, illegal aliens do affect who gets elected president, and that's since the Electoral College elects the president, and the states are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-without-voting-illegal-aliens-do-affect-who-gets-elected/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If Jehovah cannot support his religion without going into partnership with a State Legislature, I think he ought to give it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-jehovah-cannot-support-his-religion-without-going-into-partnership/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I am unable to conceive that the state legislatures which must feel so many motives to watch, and which possess so many means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-am-unable-to-conceive-that-the-state-legislatures-which-must-feel/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Democrats, folks, only have five states where they have the governorship and the state legislature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/democrats-folks-only-have-five-states-where-they-have-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The late proceedings of those daring invaders to establish a national religion have opened the eyes of all lovers of liberty and religion... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-royall/the-late-proceedings-of-those-daring-invaders-to-establish-a-national/) [Anne Royall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-royall/) > [What I write about is how much influence it's had in things like state legislatures and governorships and congressional races. The other thing that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/what-i-write-about-is-how-much-influence-it-s-had-in-things-like/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) ## More by Bill Hagerty > [It is deeply concerning to learn that Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly praised autocratic China's aggressive and troubling expansion into Africa during a 2019 speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/it-is-deeply-concerning-to-learn-that-linda-thomas-greenfield/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As the former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I dealt on a daily basis with China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-the-former-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-dealt-on-a-daily-basis-with/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement jeopardize the safety of American communities and put our officers at greater risk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/local-jurisdictions-that-refuse-to-cooperate-with-federal-law/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The Democrats have a plan, their plan is to humiliate and embarrass the Republican voters that supported President Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-democrats-have-a-plan-their-plan-is-to-humiliate-and-embarrass/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The Trump Administration kept its promise to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, the eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish State of Israel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-trump-administration-kept-its-promise-to-move-the-u-s-embassy-to/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Telephone companies do not shut off your phone line based on what political views you express during calls. The same logic should apply today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/telephone-companies-do-not-shut-off-your-phone-line-based-on-what/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The model of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Arab world serves as a powerful reminder that diplomacy is not an end itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-model-of-the-abraham-accords-between-israel-and-the-arab-world/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [I was fortunate to benefit from Secretary Shultz's advice and counsel when I served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/i-was-fortunate-to-benefit-from-secretary-shultz-s-advice-and-counsel/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As the U.S. ambassador to Japan, I saw firsthand how oppressive regimes in North Korea, Russia, and China attempted to erase history; it's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-the-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-saw-firsthand-how-oppressive-regimes/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [We became energy independent under President Trump. It is strong for our economy, strong for our national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/we-became-energy-independent-under-president-trump-it-is-strong-for/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The United States cannot fall victim again to Tehran's blackmail, bribery, and extortion by giving into its demands for sanctions relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-united-states-cannot-fall-victim-again-to-tehran-s-blackmail/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The United States must continue efforts to lead the world in holding accountable the Chinese Communist Party for all of its predatory and threatening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-united-states-must-continue-efforts-to-lead-the-world-in-holding/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The criminal elements here in America are thriving under the Biden Administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-criminal-elements-here-in-america-are-thriving-under-the-biden/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As long as the Biden administration fails to see and speak to the difference between our allies and terrorists, our adversaries will continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-long-as-the-biden-administration-fails-to-see-and-speak-to-the/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Democrats would pull the ladder from aspiring Americans and create a permanent status of government-run mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/democrats-would-pull-the-ladder-from-aspiring-americans-and-create-a/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) [Explore all 100 Bill Hagerty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Constitution rightly commits the authority of state elections to state legislatures, not Congress, but Congress must protect the Electoral College and should not subsidize an unconstitutional process in which state election laws are trampled on, like we saw in some states in 2020.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Hagerty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-authority-of-state-elections-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-authority-of-state-elections-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-aut_2039755.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Constitution rightly commits the authority of state elections to state legislatures, not Congress, but…” — Bill Hagerty", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill Hagerty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Constitution rightly commits the authority...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-authority-of-state-elections-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-constitution-rightly-commits-the-authority-of-state-elections-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```