South Carolina v. Katzenbach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Carolina v. Katzenbach |
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| Argued January 17–18, 1966 Decided March 7, 1966 |
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| Full case name | South Carolina v. Nicholas Katzenbach, Attorney General |
| Citations | 383 U.S. 301 (more)
86 S. Ct. 803; 15 L. Ed. 2d 769; 1966 U.S. LEXIS 2112
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| Questions presented | |
| Does the Voting Rights Act of 1965 violate the states' constitutional ability to implement and control elections? | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Warren, joined by Douglas, Clark, Harlan, Brennan, Stewart, White, Fortas |
| Concur/dissent | Black |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. amend. XV | |
South Carolina v. Katzenbach was a very important case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966. The state of South Carolina challenged a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This part required some states to get federal approval before changing their election rules.
The Supreme Court decided that this part of the law, called "preclearance," was constitutional. This meant the Voting Rights Act of 1965 could be fully used. This decision was a big step forward for voting rights in the United States.
Why the Case Happened
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was created to stop unfair voting practices. It said that states with a history of discrimination had to get federal approval for new voting rules. This was called the "preclearance" rule. States had to get approval if they used things like literacy tests. They also needed approval if voter turnout was low. This rule mostly affected states in the southern United States.
South Carolina's Attorney General, Daniel R. McLeod, took the case directly to the Supreme Court. He argued that the Voting Rights Act was unfair to states. He said it took away their right to control their own elections. He also felt it treated some states differently than others.
Many other southern states supported South Carolina's challenge. Meanwhile, states from the North and West supported the Voting Rights Act. This case became very important. It dealt with how much power states have compared to the federal government.
This case was unusual because it went straight to the Supreme Court. Usually, cases start in lower courts and then are appealed. The Court heard the case quickly. They wanted their decision to be ready for South Carolina's primary elections that year.
The Court's Decision
Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the main opinion for the Supreme Court. He said that Congress had the power to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This power came from the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment gives Congress the power to stop discrimination in voting.
Warren explained that the Voting Rights Act was needed to fight racism. He noted that the 15th Amendment alone had not been enough. Discrimination in voting had continued for a long time. The Act provided stronger ways to make sure all citizens had equal chances to vote.
Only one Justice, Hugo L. Black, disagreed with part of the ruling. He felt that the law went too far. He believed it gave the federal government too much power over the states. Justice Black thought states should be able to make their own laws without asking federal officials for permission. He would have kept most of the law. However, he wanted to remove the "preclearance" part.
What Happened Next
The Supreme Court's decision meant the Voting Rights Act of 1965 could be put into action. This was a huge victory for the Civil Rights Movement. Between 1964 and 1967, over 800,000 African Americans registered to vote.
This case also helped President Johnson continue with civil rights reforms. One example is the Fair Housing Act. This law made sure everyone had equal housing opportunities. This was true no matter their race or religion.
South Carolina v. Katzenbach was used as an example in other court cases about the Voting Rights Act. It showed that the 15th Amendment gave Congress strong powers. These powers allowed Congress to prevent racial discrimination in voting. Some people disagreed with the ruling. They felt the Court gave too much power to Congress. They thought the judges made the decision based on their own beliefs, not just the law.
The importance of South Carolina v. Katzenbach changed in 2013. That year, the Supreme Court made a new decision in the case of Shelby County v. Holder. In that case, the Court struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act. They said those parts were based on old information. This meant they were no longer needed for current laws.
