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Simple English definitions for legal terms

Baker v. Carr (1962)

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A quick definition of Baker v. Carr (1962):

Baker v. Carr (1962) is a court case that said federal courts can hear cases about how states draw their voting district lines. This is important because it means that if a state's voting districts are not fair, people can sue to make them fair. The case was about a man who lived in a city and felt like his vote didn't count as much as people who lived in the country. The court said that this was a problem and that the state needed to make the districts more equal. The court also made a rule called the political question doctrine, which says that some cases are too political for the courts to decide. But in this case, the court said it was okay to decide because it was about fairness and not just politics. This case helped make sure that everyone's vote counts the same, no matter where they live.

A more thorough explanation:

Baker v. Carr (1962) is a landmark case in the United States that dealt with the issue of redistricting and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The case established that federal courts could hear cases alleging that a state's drawing of electoral boundaries violates the Equal Protection Clause. This means that if a state's redistricting plan unfairly favors one group of voters over another, it can be challenged in court.

For example, in the Baker v. Carr case, the plaintiff lived in an urban Tennessee voting district that was underrepresented compared to rural voting districts. Tennessee law required districts to be redrawn every ten years, but Tennessee had not done so in decades. The plaintiff sued in federal district court, claiming that the law required Tennessee to redraw their districts to make each district's representation substantially equal to its population.

The lower court held that the issue was a political question and therefore non-justiciable, dismissing the plaintiff's case. However, the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed and held that the constitutionality of a legislative appointment scheme was not a political question and therefore was justiciable. This means that a federal court could hear the case and decide on the merits.

In finding this case justiciable, the Court created the political question doctrine, which creates a series of factors that determine whether a case is non-justiciable. If any of the factors are met, then the court may not hear the case. For example, if the issue has already been decided by another branch of government, or if there are no standards for resolving the issue, the court may not hear the case.

By holding that such cases were justiciable, the Supreme Court paved the way for federal courts to hear and decide on claims that electoral districts violated the equal protection clause. Two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court relied on Baker to require that the United States House of Representatives and state legislatures establish electoral districts of equal population in Wesberry v. Sanders and Reynolds v. Sims.

Overall, Baker v. Carr was an important case that helped to establish the principle of equal representation in the United States. It ensured that all voters have an equal say in the political process, regardless of where they live or what their background is.

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HopefullyInLawSchool
16:12
@RoaldDahl: Likely not however it could mean nothing
RoaldDahl
16:15
So if it means nothing does that mean something?
HopefullyInLawSchool
16:17
Possibly
RoaldDahl
16:26
Cool
RoaldDahl
16:26
thank you!!!! i hope it means something
pinkandblue
16:31
fart
IrishDinosaur
16:36
Mich R gang lesgooo
Did anyone else get that random get to know nova email?
HopefullyInLawSchool
17:21
Ya it was sent to all YM applicants
starfishies
17:37
Anyone get the NDLS email inviting you to apply for something even though they haven’t made a decision on your app yet
17:38
Better yet I got the email and I was rejected last month
starfishies
17:38
Wtf
starfishies
17:39
and the deadline is in like a week what is this
any cardozo movement?
BatmanBeyond
18:01
Sent a LOCI via portal, but I'm wondering if email would have gotten me a swifter response
BatmanBeyond
18:02
This whole hold/wait-list/reserve system is a headache
loci already?
BatmanBeyond
18:09
If the odds are like 1-2% I don't think it matters much by the numbers
12:11
I got the same NDLS email
OrangeThing
12:18
I think the user profiles are broken
19:29
Any word out of Notre Dame?
19:29
Only the invitation to apply for LSE
19:29
Anyone received a decision from NDLS?
19:50
when did u guys apply that just heard from umich? they havent even glanced at my app yet
0:30
how am i supposed to spy on people when profile links are broken?
Right. Broken links smh
I've been UR since first/second week of Jan, no updates otherwise, is that a bad sign? At or above median LSAT and above 75th gpa.
The profile links are not working for me. anybody else?
13:18
i’m in the same boat mastermonkey but with lower stats. i hope i hear back by mid march
CheeseIsMyLoveLanguage
13:24
@mastermonkey45: Looking at some of the recent decisions in relation to when they went complete, I'd say it's a good sign. It seems many declines were sent within about 5-6 weeks of completion. Given those were applications that were SENT in January, I'd say that means you're still solidly in the running. :)
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