Baker vs. Carr

Memphis has 1 million people and another county has 10 thousand people and each county gets to elect one state representative. In your own words, how might this violate the idea of one person's vote holding the same weight as another person's vote?

How are Tenessee's actions violating the 14th amendment?

• Tennessee's representatives did not represent the same number of people. Therefore, the people in less populated counties had their vote count more than people in counties with higher populations. 

• Tennessee was giving more representation to the city of Memphis because they had a greater population.

• The equal protection clause did not allow the citizens to impeach their representatives after their term ended. 

Why did the district lines have to be redrawn?

• So that the representatives could split the racial boundary lines.

• So that each person's vote carried the same weight.

• So each person had a higher proportional vote.

Why might an urban citizen be in favor of the Baker V. Carr decision?

Based on the following scenarios, which situation would be allowed according to the Baker v. Carr decision? (more than one may be right)

• Franklin county has 300,000 people and they get to elect 2 people to the state congress. Hardin county has 25,000 people, Allen county has 100,000 people, and Logan county has 25,000 people. These three counties combined get 1 representative.  

• Hardin county has 24,000 people and they get to elect 1 person to the state congress. Franklin county has 400,000 people and they get to elect 1 person to the state congress. 

• Memphis has a population of 50,000 people and they get to elect 2 people to the state congress. Nashville has 100,000 people and they get to elect 4 people to the state congress.