Street Law

What was the main issue in the Baker v. Carr case?

• The power of the president to negotiate treaties

• The division of voting districts and the equality of representation in state legislatures

• The ability of federal courts to hear cases involving political matters

• The distribution of the population in Memphis from 1901 to 1950

Why did federal courts traditionally avoid hearing cases like Baker v. Carr?

• Because they were considered to be "political questions"

• Because the cases were thought to be unimportant

• Because the Constitution did not allow them to hear such cases

• Because they were too complex for the courts to understand

What was the result of the population shift in Tennessee by 1960?

• The boundaries between electoral districts were redrawn according to the 1960 census

• The distribution of the population did not change significantly

• Legislative districts became uneven, with rural and urban districts having a significant difference in population

• All counties in Tennessee elected more than one member to the state's General Assembly

When was the Baker v. Carr case decided?

• April 19-21, 1961

• October 9, 1961

• March 26, 1962

• It was not decided

What was the main argument of Charles Baker in the case of Baker v. Carr?

• The federal courts should not intervene in state legislative matters.

• Urban areas were being denied equal protection of the laws under the 14th Amendment because their votes were "devalued."

• Rural areas should have more representation in the state legislature.

• The U.S. Supreme Court lacked authority to decide cases about the apportionment of population into state legislative districts.

What did the state of Tennessee argue in Baker v. Carr?

• The state's political process should be allowed to function independently.

• Urban areas needed more representation in the state legislature.

• The judicial Power shall not extend to cases about the apportionment of population into state legislative districts.

• The U.S. Supreme Court had full authority to decide the case.

Which article of the U.S. Constitution extends the judicial power to all cases, in law and equity, arising under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made under their authority?

• Article I

• Article II

• Article III, section 2

• Article IV

What does the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibit?

• It prohibits the federal government from intervening in state legislative districting.

• It prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

• It prohibits the judicial branch from deciding cases about the apportionment of population into state legislative districts.

• It prohibits rural areas from having less representation than urban areas.

Which Supreme Court precedent was related to the issue of apportionment of population into state legislative districts before Baker v. Carr?

• Marbury v. Madison

• Brown v. Board of Education

• Colegrove v. Green

• Roe v. Wade

What was the main argument made by Baker in the case of Baker v. Carr?

• The federal courts should not decide political questions.

• The boundaries for congressional districts in Illinois were irregularly shaped and violated constitutional requirements.

• The legislative process is inherently political in nature, and courts cannot second-guess the political judgment of a state.

• The courts should not follow a long-held practice merely because it is a tradition.