The SCOTUS 14 - Districting & Representation

What was the main issue in Baker v. Carr (1962)?

• Does SCOTUS have the authority to hear a case involving a state redrawing its legislative districts?

• Can legislative districts that are drawn along racial lines be challenged in court?

• Can Congress use the Commerce Clause to regulate handguns on school campuses?

• Does a felony defendant in a state court have a right to legal counsel?

In Baker v. Carr (1962), what constitutional principle was used to show SCOTUS had the authority to hear a case involving legislative reapportionment?

• Equal Protection Clause

• First Amendment

• Second Amendment

• Due Process Clause

What was a key impact of the Shaw v. Reno (1993) case?

• Majority-minority legislative districts can be constitutionally challenged if race was the sole factor in their creation.

• It legalized racial gerrymandering.

• It banned all forms of gerrymandering.

• It established new voting districts.

Who authored the majority opinion in Shaw v. Reno?

• Sandra Day O'Connor

• Thurgood Marshall

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg

• Antonin Scalia

The Shaw v. Reno case involved residents from which state?

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

• Georgia

• Virginia

Which one is an accurate comparison of Baker v. Carr (1961) and Shaw v. Reno (1993)?

• BAKER V. CARR (1961): Ruled that rural voters had to be represented proportionally to urban voters. / SHAW V. RENO (1993): Ruled that gerrymandered districts were legal.

  
  

• BAKER V. CARR (1961): Established the "one person one vote" doctrine / SHAW V. RENO (1993): Declared majority-minority districts unconstitutional

  
  

• BAKER V. CARR (1961): Allowed state legislatures to gerrymander districts / SHAW V. RENO (1993): Ruled that race-based voting was not different than race-based hiring

  
  

• BAKER V. CARR (1961): Violated separation of powers doctrine between state legislatures and the courts / SHAW V. RENO (1993): Ruled the Voting Rights Act was constitutional