Appealed From: U. S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
Subjects: Congress; Elections; Supremacy Clause

At Issue: Whether federal law preempts Louisiana's open primary system, which allows contested congressional elections to be decided before the uniform federal election day.

Decision: In a unanimous decision, the justices ruled that states cannot elect their officials before the national elections in November, nullifying Louisiana's open primary law.

• Read the full text of the Foster v. Love decision at the Findlaw Internet Legal Resources Web site.

Sources: The Washington Post, Supreme Court, The United States Law Week (a Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. publication)