Was Baker v Carr unconstitutional?
Asked by: Prof. Abel Franecki | Last update: December 22, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (4 votes)
We conclude that the complaint's allegations of a denial of equal protection present a justiciable constitutional cause of action upon which appellants are entitled to a trial and a decision. The right asserted is within the reach of judicial protection under the Fourteenth Amendment.
What was the biggest issue in Baker v. Carr?
In the case of Baker v. Carr, the main issue was whether federal courts should have the authority to review the way a state legislature draws district lines for State elections. There were arguments for and against allowing federal court review.
What is the significance of the case Baker v. Carr 1962 in terms of judicial power over redistricting?
On March 26, 1962, the Supreme Court decided Baker v. Carr, finding that it had the power to review the redistricting of state legislative districts under the 14th Amendment.
What is the political question doctrine in Baker v. Carr?
In Baker v Carr (1962), the Court concluded that the political question doctrine did not bar courts from reaching the merits of a challenge brought against Tennessee's system of apportioning its state legislature.
Why did the U.S. Supreme Court rule against the state of Tennessee in Baker v. Carr quiz?
Carr (1962), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Tennessee because the state had not redistricted since 1901, which resulted in rural districts having disproportionate power over urban areas.
Baker v. Carr, EXPLAINED [AP Gov Required Supreme Court Cases]
What was the constitutional justification of Baker v. Carr?
Baker v. Carr (1962) is the U.S. Supreme Court case that held that federal courts could hear cases alleging that a state's drawing of electoral boundaries, i.e. redistricting, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
Was Baker v. Carr overturned?
The Supreme Court reversed, finding that the subject matter of the case was within the federal judicial power, the plaintiffs had the legal standing necessary to bring their claims, and most importantly, that legislative apportionment was in fact a justiciable issue and not a political question.
What was the constitutional question in Baker v. Carr 1961?
The Court held that “the question of whether people underrepresented in their government were being deprived of the equal protection of the laws was a justiciable one, subject to the jurisdiction of the courts.” Through the door that Baker opened, the Court soon developed the “one man, one vote” rule (a phrase that ...
Was Baker v. Carr one person, one vote?
Baker v. Carr (1962) is usually cited as the most important case in redistricting law, but the phrase "one man,one vote," which is so closely associated with the court's mandates on redistricting, actually came from the majority opinion in the lesser-known case of Gray v.
What is judicial activism in Baker v. Carr?
Judicial Activism: Baker v. Carr marked a shift toward judicial activism in cases involving constitutional issues. The Court's willingness to address the matter signaled that the federal judiciary would not shy away from intervening in cases where constitutional rights were at stake.
What is the significance of Baker v. Carr quizlet?
What is the significance of Baker v Carr.? The Court held that that redistricting qualifies as a justiciable question, thus enabling federal courts to hear redistricting cases.
What case made racial gerrymandering illegal?
Miller v. Johnson, 515 U.S. 900 (1995), was a United States Supreme Court case concerning "affirmative gerrymandering/racial gerrymandering", where racial minority-majority electoral districts are created during redistricting to increase minority Congressional representation.
What impact did the decision in Baker v. Carr 1962 have on congressional redistricting?
**End of Malapportionment:** Baker v. Carr marked the end of malapportionment, where some legislative districts had substantially more or fewer residents than others. The decision required states to redraw their congressional districts to better reflect population distribution and provide more accurate representation.
Which of the following is a consequence of the ruling established in Baker v. Carr?
The consequence of Baker v. Carr is that states must create voting districts with relatively similar populations to ensure equal voter representation.
Which of the following most clearly states the outcome of Baker v. Carr?
Which of the following most clearly states the outcome of Baker v. Carr (1962)? The redistricting of state legislative districts is justiciable by the Federal Courts.
What is the significance of Baker v. Carr?
Carr (1962) established the right of federal courts to review redistricting issues, which had previously been termed "political questions" outside the courts' jurisdiction.
What was the key quote in Baker v. Carr?
A citizen's right to a vote free of arbitrary impairment by state action has been judicially recognized as a right secured by the Constitution when such impairment resulted from dilution by a false tally, cf.
Is gerrymandering legal?
The majority opinion stated that extreme partisan gerrymandering is still unconstitutional, but it is up to Congress and state legislative bodies to find ways to restrict that, such as through the use of independent redistricting commissions.
Did Baker v. Carr establish one person, one vote?
Precedent set
In 1964, the Supreme Court heard six more cases regarding legislative apportionment in Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Those cases built upon the Baker decision and created the “one person, one vote” standard used to determine apportionment.
Who won Baker vs Carr?
The opinion was finally handed down in March 1962, nearly a year after it was initially argued. The Court split 6 to 2 in ruling that Baker's case was justiciable, producing, in addition to the opinion of the Court by Justice William J. Brennan, three concurring opinions and two dissenting opinions.
What was the constitutional question?
A constitutional question is a legal problem that can be solved by interpreting a constitution, rather than a law. It's like trying to figure out what the rules are for a game by looking at the instructions, instead of asking someone who's played before.
Was Baker v. Carr about race?
Baker v. Carr' and the reapportionment cases that followed2 reshaped representa- tive government at the state level through the principle of "one voter, one vote." Some scholars have declared that Baker, the seminal case on reapportionment, has nothing to do with racial discrimination.
What was the outcome of Baker v. Carr 1962 quizlet?
The Supreme Court decided for Baker. They ruled that federal courts have the authority to enforce the 14th amendment if the state legislative districts are disproportionately populated. The District Court should not have dismissed Biggers issue just because they felt they didn't have jurisdiction.
When was Baker v Nelson overturned?
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Baker in Obergefell v. Hodges. In that decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: The Court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.