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The United States Supreme Court case *Shaw v. Hunt* was decided in 1995, primarily focusing on campaign finance regulations.
Answer: False
Explanation: The case *Shaw v. Hunt* was decided in 1996, not 1995, and its primary focus was on redistricting and racial gerrymandering, not campaign finance regulations.
The oral arguments for *Shaw v. Hunt* were presented before the Supreme Court in December 1995, with the final decision delivered in June 1996.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for *Shaw v. Hunt* on December 5, 1995, and issued its final decision on June 13, 1996.
Both *Shaw v. Hunt* and its predecessor, *Shaw v. Reno*, addressed the constitutionality of North Carolina's congressional redistricting plans, particularly those involving majority-minority districts.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both *Shaw v. Hunt* and *Shaw v. Reno* concerned the constitutionality of North Carolina's congressional redistricting plans, specifically those involving the creation of majority-minority districts.
After *Shaw v. Reno* was remanded, the district court held that North Carolina's redistricting plan failed strict scrutiny and was therefore unconstitutional.
Answer: False
Explanation: After *Shaw v. Reno* was remanded, the district court held that North Carolina's redistricting plan *survived* strict scrutiny and was therefore constitutional, which prompted the case's return to the Supreme Court.
The decision date of June 13, 1996, for *Shaw v. Hunt* is significant because it marked the beginning of the oral arguments for the case.
Answer: False
Explanation: June 13, 1996, was the date the Supreme Court issued its final ruling in *Shaw v. Hunt*, not the beginning of oral arguments, which occurred on December 5, 1995.
The initial finding in *Shaw v. Reno* was that the complaint challenging North Carolina's redistricting plan did not state a valid claim for relief under the Equal Protection Clause.
Answer: False
Explanation: The initial finding in *Shaw v. Reno* was that the complaint *did* state a valid claim for relief under the Equal Protection Clause, allowing the legal challenge to proceed.
The district court's ruling after *Shaw v. Reno* was consistent with the Supreme Court's final decision in *Shaw v. Hunt*, both finding the plan unconstitutional.
Answer: False
Explanation: The district court's ruling after *Shaw v. Reno* found the plan constitutional, which was later reversed by the Supreme Court in *Shaw v. Hunt*, finding it unconstitutional.
What was the primary legal focus of the United States Supreme Court case *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: Redistricting and racial gerrymandering
Explanation: *Shaw v. Hunt* primarily focused on issues related to redistricting and racial gerrymandering, specifically the constitutionality of North Carolina's congressional redistricting plan.
When did the Supreme Court deliver its final decision for *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: June 13, 1996
Explanation: The Supreme Court delivered its final decision for *Shaw v. Hunt* on June 13, 1996.
What was the predecessor case to *Shaw v. Hunt* that established a valid claim for relief under the Equal Protection Clause for unusually shaped majority-minority districts?
Answer: *Shaw v. Reno*
Explanation: *Shaw v. Reno* was the predecessor case that established a valid claim for relief under the Equal Protection Clause for unusually shaped majority-minority districts.
How did the district court rule on North Carolina's redistricting plan after the Supreme Court remanded *Shaw v. Reno*?
Answer: The district court held that the plan survived strict scrutiny and was constitutional.
Explanation: After *Shaw v. Reno* was remanded, the district court held that North Carolina's redistricting plan survived strict scrutiny and was therefore constitutional.
How did the district court's ruling after *Shaw v. Reno* contrast with the Supreme Court's final decision in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: The district court found the plan constitutional, while the Supreme Court found it unconstitutional.
Explanation: The district court found the redistricting plan constitutional after *Shaw v. Reno*, but the Supreme Court in *Shaw v. Hunt* reversed this, finding the plan unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court's ruling in *Shaw v. Hunt* was fundamentally based on the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Supreme Court's ruling in *Shaw v. Hunt* was fundamentally based on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, not the Commerce Clause.
The Supreme Court applied a rational basis review to North Carolina's redistricting plan in *Shaw v. Hunt*, which is the least rigorous form of judicial review.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Supreme Court applied strict scrutiny, the most rigorous form of judicial review, to North Carolina's redistricting plan in *Shaw v. Hunt*, not rational basis review.
After applying strict scrutiny, the Court concluded that North Carolina's redistricting plan was narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
Answer: False
Explanation: After applying strict scrutiny, the Court concluded that North Carolina's redistricting plan was *not* narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment ensures that state laws, including redistricting plans, do not discriminate against individuals or groups.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is crucial for ensuring that state laws, including redistricting plans, do not discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of race.
Strict scrutiny is the lowest level of judicial review, applied when a law infringes upon a fundamental constitutional right.
Answer: False
Explanation: Strict scrutiny is the *highest* level of judicial review, applied when a law infringes upon a fundamental constitutional right or involves a suspect classification.
When strict scrutiny is applied, 'narrowly tailored' means a law must be broadly applicable to achieve its government interest, even if it infringes on some rights.
Answer: False
Explanation: Under strict scrutiny, 'narrowly tailored' means a law must be specifically designed to achieve its compelling government interest without being overly broad or unnecessarily infringing on constitutional rights.
In cases involving strict scrutiny, a 'compelling state interest' refers to any governmental objective, regardless of its importance.
Answer: False
Explanation: A 'compelling state interest' in strict scrutiny refers to a governmental objective of paramount importance, not just any objective.
Which constitutional clause was central to the Supreme Court's ruling in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
Explanation: The Supreme Court's ruling in *Shaw v. Hunt* was fundamentally based on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
What legal standard of review did the Supreme Court apply to North Carolina's redistricting plan in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: Strict scrutiny
Explanation: The Supreme Court applied strict scrutiny, the most rigorous form of judicial review, to North Carolina's redistricting plan in *Shaw v. Hunt*.
What was the Court's ultimate finding after applying strict scrutiny to the redistricting plan?
Answer: The plan was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
Explanation: After applying strict scrutiny, the Court concluded that North Carolina's redistricting plan was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
What is the general principle behind 'strict scrutiny' as a legal test?
Answer: It is applied when a law infringes upon a fundamental constitutional right or involves a suspect classification like race, requiring a compelling state interest and narrow tailoring.
Explanation: Strict scrutiny is the highest level of judicial review, applied when a law infringes upon a fundamental constitutional right or involves a suspect classification, requiring a compelling state interest and narrow tailoring.
What does the term 'narrowly tailored' signify when strict scrutiny is applied, as in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: The law must be specifically designed to achieve its compelling government interest without being overly broad or unnecessarily infringing on constitutional rights.
Explanation: When strict scrutiny is applied, 'narrowly tailored' means the law must be precisely designed to achieve its compelling government interest without being overly broad or infringing on constitutional rights unnecessarily.
What does the legal term 'compelling state interest' mean when applied in cases involving strict scrutiny?
Answer: A governmental objective of paramount importance that can justify a law infringing upon fundamental rights or using a suspect classification.
Explanation: A 'compelling state interest' is a governmental objective of paramount importance that can justify a law infringing upon fundamental rights or using a suspect classification.
In *Shaw v. Hunt*, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld North Carolina's congressional redistricting plan as constitutional.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that North Carolina's congressional redistricting plan violated the Equal Protection Clause and was therefore unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court's decision in *Shaw v. Hunt* was a unanimous 9–0 vote, indicating full agreement among the justices.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Supreme Court's decision in *Shaw v. Hunt* was a closely divided 5–4 vote, not unanimous, indicating significant disagreement among the justices.
Justice Stevens authored the majority opinion for the Supreme Court in *Shaw v. Hunt*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Chief Justice Rehnquist authored the majority opinion for the Supreme Court in *Shaw v. Hunt*, while Justice Stevens filed a dissenting opinion.
Justices O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas joined Chief Justice Rehnquist in the majority opinion for *Shaw v. Hunt*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Justices O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas joined Chief Justice Rehnquist in forming the majority opinion for *Shaw v. Hunt*.
North Carolina presented three compelling state interests to justify its plan: eradicating past discrimination, complying with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, and avoiding liability under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Answer: True
Explanation: North Carolina indeed presented these three arguments as compelling state interests to justify its redistricting plan.
The Supreme Court agreed that North Carolina's interest in eradicating the effects of past discrimination fully justified the specific use of race in its redistricting plan.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Supreme Court upheld the district court's finding that the interest in eradicating past discrimination did not justify the specific use of race in North Carolina's redistricting plan.
The Supreme Court determined that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act explicitly required North Carolina to create an additional majority-minority district.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Supreme Court determined that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act did *not* require North Carolina to create an additional majority-minority district.
North Carolina invoked the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in its defense, specifically claiming its plan was necessary to comply with Section 1 and avoid liability under Section 3 of the Act.
Answer: False
Explanation: North Carolina claimed its plan was necessary to comply with Section 5 and avoid liability under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, not Sections 1 and 3.
North Carolina's legal arguments in *Shaw v. Hunt* specifically centered on Section 5 and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Answer: True
Explanation: North Carolina's legal arguments in *Shaw v. Hunt* indeed focused on Section 5 and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
What was the ultimate outcome of the Supreme Court's decision regarding North Carolina's redistricting plan in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: The plan was deemed unconstitutional, violating the Equal Protection Clause.
Explanation: The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that North Carolina's congressional redistricting plan violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, deeming it unconstitutional.
What was the vote count among the Supreme Court justices in the *Shaw v. Hunt* decision?
Answer: 5–4
Explanation: The Supreme Court's decision in *Shaw v. Hunt* was a closely divided 5–4 vote.
Who authored the majority opinion for the Supreme Court in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: Justice Rehnquist
Explanation: Chief Justice Rehnquist delivered the majority opinion for the Supreme Court in *Shaw v. Hunt*.
Which of the following justices joined the majority opinion in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: Justices O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas
Explanation: Justices O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas joined Chief Justice Rehnquist in the majority opinion for *Shaw v. Hunt*.
Which of the following was NOT one of the compelling state interests North Carolina presented to justify its redistricting plan?
Answer: Promoting economic development in minority districts
Explanation: North Carolina presented eradicating past discrimination, complying with Section 5 of the VRA, and avoiding Section 2 liability as compelling state interests, but not promoting economic development.
How did the Supreme Court evaluate North Carolina's claim of an interest in eradicating the effects of past discrimination?
Answer: The Court upheld the district court's finding that it did not justify the specific use of race.
Explanation: The Supreme Court upheld the district court's finding that the interest in eradicating past discrimination did not justify the specific use of race in the redistricting plan.
What was the Supreme Court's interpretation of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in the context of North Carolina's redistricting plan?
Answer: North Carolina was not required to create an additional majority-minority district.
Explanation: The Supreme Court determined that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act did not require North Carolina to create an additional majority-minority district.
How did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 factor into North Carolina's defense of its redistricting plan?
Answer: North Carolina claimed its plan was necessary to comply with Section 5 and avoid liability under Section 2 of the Act.
Explanation: North Carolina invoked the Voting Rights Act of 1965, claiming its plan was necessary to comply with Section 5 and avoid liability under Section 2 of the Act.
Why did the Supreme Court reject North Carolina's argument that its redistricting plan was needed to avoid liability under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act?
Answer: The Court concluded the plan would not effectively remedy any potential violation of Section 2.
Explanation: The Supreme Court rejected this argument because it concluded that North Carolina's specific redistricting plan would not effectively remedy any potential violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Which specific sections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were central to North Carolina's legal arguments in *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: Sections 5 and 2
Explanation: North Carolina's legal arguments in *Shaw v. Hunt* specifically centered on Section 5 and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Racial gerrymandering, a key concept in *Shaw v. Hunt*, involves drawing electoral district boundaries to intentionally concentrate or dilute the voting power of a particular racial group.
Answer: True
Explanation: Racial gerrymandering is defined as the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to intentionally concentrate or dilute the voting power of a specific racial group.
When a case is 'remanded,' it means a higher court has affirmed the lower court's decision without further review.
Answer: False
Explanation: To 'remand' a case means a higher court sends it back to a lower court for further proceedings or reconsideration, not that it affirms the lower court's decision.
A 'majority-minority congressional district' is one where a racial or ethnic minority group constitutes a majority of the population, and their unusual shapes were central to the claims in *Shaw v. Hunt*.
Answer: True
Explanation: A majority-minority congressional district is indeed defined as an electoral district where a racial or ethnic minority group forms the majority of the population, and their unusual shapes were central to the claims in *Shaw v. Hunt*.
The phrase 'unusually looking majority-minority congressional districts' suggested that traditional redistricting criteria, rather than race, were the predominant factor in their creation.
Answer: False
Explanation: The phrase 'unusually looking majority-minority congressional districts' suggested that race, rather than traditional redistricting criteria, was the *predominant* factor in their creation, implying racial gerrymandering.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, typically after a decennial census, to ensure equal population and reflect demographic changes.
Answer: True
Explanation: Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, usually after a census, to maintain population equality and account for demographic shifts.
The primary concern raised by the 'unusually looking' nature of the majority-minority districts was that their irregular shapes suggested they were designed to promote traditional, race-neutral redistricting principles.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary concern was that the irregular shapes suggested race was the *predominant* factor, implying racial gerrymandering, rather than race-neutral principles.
What does it mean for a case to be 'remanded,' as happened with *Shaw v. Reno*?
Answer: The higher court sent the case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
Explanation: When a case is 'remanded,' a higher court sends it back to a lower court for further proceedings or reconsideration.
What is a 'majority-minority congressional district' in the context of *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: An electoral district where a racial or ethnic minority group constitutes a majority of the population.
Explanation: A 'majority-minority congressional district' is an electoral district where a racial or ethnic minority group constitutes a majority of the population.
What is the general definition of 'redistricting' in the context of electoral law?
Answer: The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts, typically after a decennial census.
Explanation: Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, usually after a decennial census, to ensure population equality and reflect demographic changes.
What was the primary concern raised by the 'unusually looking' nature of the majority-minority districts in North Carolina?
Answer: That their irregular and contorted shapes suggested race was the predominant factor in their creation, implying racial gerrymandering.
Explanation: The primary concern was that the irregular and contorted shapes of the districts suggested race was the predominant factor in their creation, implying racial gerrymandering.
The *Shaw v. Hunt* decision definitively resolved whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act could ever provide a compelling interest for racial gerrymandering.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Shaw v. Hunt* decision left open the question of whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act could, under different circumstances, provide a compelling interest for racial gerrymandering.
*Shaw v. Hunt* advanced the precedent from *Shaw v. Reno* by moving from an initial finding of a plausible claim to a definitive ruling that the specific redistricting plan violated the Equal Protection Clause.
Answer: True
Explanation: *Shaw v. Hunt* definitively ruled on the constitutionality of the specific redistricting plan, building upon *Shaw v. Reno*'s establishment of a plausible claim.
*Shaw v. Hunt* is considered important because it clarified the application of the Equal Protection Clause to racial gerrymandering, affirming that race cannot be the predominant factor in drawing electoral districts unless narrowly tailored to a compelling state interest.
Answer: True
Explanation: *Shaw v. Hunt* is significant for clarifying the Equal Protection Clause's application to racial gerrymandering, emphasizing that race cannot be the predominant factor without a narrowly tailored compelling state interest.
What significant question did the *Shaw v. Hunt* decision leave unresolved regarding the Voting Rights Act?
Answer: Whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act could, under different circumstances, provide a compelling interest for racial gerrymandering.
Explanation: The *Shaw v. Hunt* decision left open the question of whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act could, under different circumstances, provide a compelling interest for racial gerrymandering.
How did *Shaw v. Hunt* further develop the legal precedent established by *Shaw v. Reno*?
Answer: *Shaw v. Hunt* moved beyond a plausible claim of racial gerrymandering to definitively rule the specific plan violated the Equal Protection Clause.
Explanation: *Shaw v. Hunt* advanced the precedent by definitively ruling on the constitutionality of the specific redistricting plan, whereas *Shaw v. Reno* had established a plausible claim.
Why is *Shaw v. Hunt* considered an important case in the context of American constitutional law?
Answer: It clarified the application of the Equal Protection Clause to racial gerrymandering, affirming that race cannot be the predominant factor in drawing electoral districts unless narrowly tailored to a compelling state interest.
Explanation: *Shaw v. Hunt* is important for clarifying the Equal Protection Clause's application to racial gerrymandering, establishing that race cannot be the predominant factor without a narrowly tailored compelling state interest.
The full legal name of the case *Shaw v. Hunt* indicates that there was only one plaintiff and one defendant involved in the legal proceedings.
Answer: False
Explanation: The full legal name, *Shaw et al. v. Hunt, Governor of North Carolina, et al.*, signifies that multiple plaintiffs and defendants were involved in the legal proceedings.
The official citation for *Shaw v. Hunt* is 517 U.S. 899 (1996), indicating it is published in volume 517 of the United States Reports.
Answer: True
Explanation: The official citation for *Shaw v. Hunt* is indeed 517 U.S. 899 (1996), found in volume 517 of the United States Reports.
The Chief Justice, when part of the majority, has the authority to assign which justice will write the majority opinion, or to write it himself.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Chief Justice, if in the majority, indeed has the prerogative to assign the writing of the majority opinion or to author it personally.
When *Shaw v. Hunt* was decided, there were seven justices on the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice.
Answer: False
Explanation: When *Shaw v. Hunt* was decided, there were nine justices on the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice.
What is the official citation for the *Shaw v. Hunt* case in the United States Reports?
Answer: 517 U.S. 899 (1996)
Explanation: The official citation for *Shaw v. Hunt* is 517 U.S. 899 (1996), indicating its publication in the United States Reports.
What is the role of the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court's decision-making process, as exemplified by *Shaw v. Hunt*?
Answer: The Chief Justice presides over sessions and, if in the majority, assigns or writes the majority opinion.
Explanation: The Chief Justice presides over Supreme Court sessions and, if part of the majority, has the authority to assign or write the majority opinion.
How many justices were on the Supreme Court when *Shaw v. Hunt* was decided, including the Chief Justice?
Answer: Nine
Explanation: When *Shaw v. Hunt* was decided, there were nine justices on the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice.