LAWS ELECTIONS

15th Amendment (1870)

Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude'.

17th Amendment (1913)

Changed the way U.S. Senators are elected, moving from selection by state legislatures to direct election by the voters of each state.

19th Amendment (1920)

Guaranteed that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged 'on account of sex,' granting women the right to vote.

23rd Amendment (1961)

Granted residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote for President and Vice President by providing the District with electors in the Electoral College.

24th Amendment (1964)

Abolished the use of poll taxes in federal elections, which had been used to prevent low-income citizens, particularly African Americans, from voting.

26th Amendment (1971)

Lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18 years old for all federal, state, and local elections.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Critical piece of legislation that enforced constitutional rights by banning discriminatory practices like literacy tests.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Supreme Court case holding that spending money in campaigns is a form of free speech.

McCain-Feingold Act (2002) / BCRA

Bipartisan law banning soft money to parties and restricting certain political ads close to elections.

McConnell v. FEC (2003)

Supreme Court decision that upheld most of McCain-Feingold (later weakened by Citizens United).

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

Struck down the VRA's preclearance formula, weakening federal oversight.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions because it is protected political speech.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Issue: Do federal courts have jurisdiction over cases of state legislature apportionment?

Baker v. Carr (1962) - Decision

Majority opinion - not a political question - valid constitutional issue.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Issue: Does the 12th congressional district violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment?

Shaw v. Reno (1993) - Decision

Majority opinion - unconstitutional because it's solely based on race.

Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)

Issue: Can federal courts rule on partisan gerrymandering?

Rucho v. Common Cause (2019) - Ruling

NO — federal courts are not the place to decide partisan gerrymandering cases.