{"argument_date":"2013-03-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-03-18T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","paragraphs":["Arizona argues the National Voter Registration Act does not preempt Proposition 200.","The state claims Congress did not expressly prohibit state enforcement of citizenship rules.","The Inter Tribal Council argues the federal form streamlines the registration process.","The challengers assert federal law preempts state-added documentary requirements."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]}],"caption":"Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Ariz. Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.438070Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.442067Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Arizona demands documentary proof of citizenship. Federal law mandates a simple signed attestation. The conflict centers on state authority versus federal preemption.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-03-18T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-71.html","primary_docket":"12-71","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:07:21.032530Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute involves the National Voter Registration Act. Arizona enacted Proposition 200. This measure requires documentary proof of citizenship. Federal law requires a signed attestation. The state argues federal law does not preempt its stricter rule. The challengers argue federal law preempts the state requirement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 18, 2013."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Arizona wants to enforce its documentary proof requirement on federal forms.","The Inter Tribal Council wants to invalidate the state documentary proof requirement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Arizona argues Congress did not expressly prohibit state enforcement of citizenship requirements.","The Inter Tribal Council argues federal law streamlines registration and preempts state additions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked why one requirement takes precedence over another.","Justice Scalia asked why the state did not challenge the federal form directly."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the boundary between state and federal voter registration authority. It determines whether states can impose stricter citizenship documentation rules. This affects the uniformity of federal voter registration processes nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]}],"slug":"2012-12-71-arizona-v-inter-tribal-council-of-ariz-inc","term":"2012","title":"Can Arizona require proof of citizenship on federal voter forms?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-71_2b8e.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 21-29"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}