URGENT: AP US history

Question

Identify a common constitutional clause used to make a ruling in both Shaw v. Reno (1993) and Bush v. Vera (1996).

Answer 1

The common constitutional clause used in both Shaw v. Reno (1993) and Bush v. Vera (1996) is the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

In both cases, the Supreme Court held that drawing congressional districts primarily based on race could violate the Equal Protection Clause if race was the predominant factor and the districting plan was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest.

In Shaw v. Reno, the Court ruled that unusually shaped majority-minority districts could be challenged as racial gerrymandering under the Equal Protection Clause.

In Bush v. Vera, the Court reaffirmed that districts drawn predominantly on racial lines must pass strict scrutiny — meaning the state must prove the plan serves a compelling interest and is narrowly tailored.

Both cases center on whether race-based redistricting violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Answer 2

The concept of strict scrutiny under the 14th amendment was central to both of these cases. Please message me if you need further help!