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AP Gov: Shaw v Reno Definition + Key Facts

The case Shaw v. Reno (1993) involved a challenge to a North Carolina congressional district map, alleging racial gerrymandering. The plaintiffs argued that the district was drawn with the intention of creating a majority-minority district, thereby violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed, holding that the district was so irregular on its face that it could only be understood as an effort to segregate voters based on race. This ruling established that while states can consider race when drawing districts to comply with the Voting Rights Act, race cannot be the predominant factor.

This Supreme Court decision is significant because it placed limits on the practice of creating majority-minority districts, even if intended to increase minority representation. It affirmed that using race as the primary factor in drawing district lines is unconstitutional, as it reinforces racial stereotypes and undermines the principle of equal representation. The case established a key precedent that continues to shape redistricting practices and litigation surrounding voting rights.

6+ Shaw v Reno AP Gov Definition: Key Facts & Impact

The Supreme Court case Shaw v. Reno (1993) is a landmark decision concerning redistricting and racial gerrymandering. It specifically addresses the constitutionality of congressional districts drawn in a manner that appears to segregate voters by race. The core issue revolves around whether the creation of an unusually shaped district, ostensibly to ensure minority representation, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. For example, a district stretching across a state in a thin, serpentine fashion to connect predominantly minority neighborhoods could be challenged under the precedent set by this case.

This ruling is significant because it reinforces the principle that race cannot be the predominant factor in drawing electoral district lines. The benefits of this decision include preventing the creation of districts that may perpetuate racial segregation in voting and ensuring that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Historically, it emerged from concerns about the fairness and representational equity of redistricting plans implemented following the 1990 census. The case served as a check on the potential for manipulating district boundaries to disproportionately favor or disadvantage specific racial groups.