South Carolina v. Katzenbach

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: On what constitutional basis did some states and individuals oppose the Voting Rights Act of 1965? How did other states respond to these objections?
• 2.: In what ways did some states, particularly in the South, disenfranchise black voters? How did the Voting Rights Act attempt to correct this situation?
• 3.: The Voting Rights Act was one piece of civil rights legislation passed in the 1960s. What other bills were passed during this era, and what effect did they have on the condition of African Americans?
• 4.: What was the relationship between the Voting Rights Act and the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution? What role did this relationship play in South Carolina v. Katzenbach?
• 5.: In the modern era, an increasing number of people object to gerrymandering, or the creation of bizarrely shaped electoral districts with a view to grouping together racial or ethnic groups into a single district. To what extent, if any, do you believe that this practice is a violation of the spirit of the Voting Rights Act and South Carolina v. Katzenbach?