Speech #890058063

The Constitution grants Congress no veto power over acts of State legislatures. Undeniably. however. these are the powers which Congress purports to exercise in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The bill purports to invalidate the imposition of literacy tests as a qualification to voting in certain statistically selected States. The imposition of literacy tests as a qualification for voting has repeatedly been sustained by the courts as a constitutional exercise of State power under the Constitution. Under this bill. Congress purports to decide which States could. and which States could not. impose literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. thereby denying to some States. while leaving intact in others. a specific and important power. This bill would impose a condition of prior approval by a court or the Attorney General on enforcement of State laws dealing with voting rights and procedures. By such an act.