U4 Baker v Carr (1962)

Question 1

What is the central clause involved in Baker v Carr?

Answer 1

The Equal Protection Clause

Question 2

What instigated the Baker v Carr case?

Answer 2

Tennessee State Lawmakers (Carr) hadn’t revised disctricts since 1900. Urban Shelby County had 1 representative and rural counties with smaller populations also only had the 1 representative. Baker (Shelby Counter Resident) was denied equal representation and didn’t think it was consitutional.

Question 3

What was the question in Baker v Carr?

Answer 3

Do federal courts have jurisdiction over cases of State legislature redistricting to ensure equal protection?

Question 4

What was the decision in Baker v Carr?

Answer 4

6-2 Baker. Federal courts have authority to enforce redistrciting in States to uphold equal protection clause and ensure treatment of citizens, includinng equal representation.

Question 5

What was the significance of the holding in Baker v Carr?

Answer 5

-Established right of federal courts to review redistricting issues
-“One person, one vote” -> equal representation in voting
-A vote of one citizen should not mean more than the vote of another.