AJ 025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Voting Rights Act Of 1965, Voting Age, Enumerated Powers

• School: College of The Sequoias
• Department: Administration of Justice (AJ)
• Course: AJ 025
• Professor: shirk

Document Summary

In accordance with 1965 act, director of census bureau determined that 50% of voting age population in alabama, alaska, georgia, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, Virginia did not vote in 1964 election; all of these states faced sanctions government unconstitutional; 5 of the 6 states filed amicus briefs for south carolina. South carolina asked scotus (under its original jurisdiction) to find the act. 19 states (most in the east and midwest) submitted amicus briefs supporting u. s. Does the enforcement clause give congress the power to implement the voting rights. Ruling: 8 (brennan, clark, douglas, fortas, harlan, stewart, warren, white) to 1 (black) Yes: voting rights act of 1965 upheld. Scotus ruled that voting rights act was a valid exercise of congress" power under the 15th amendment"s enforcement clause. Court found 15th amendment wasn"t strong enough on its own; in response, the act was ruled a legitimate response to combat racism and ensure equal voting rights opportunity.