GERRYMANDERING SUPREME COURT CASES
Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960)-gerrymandering, except when solely based on race, can happen but is still
subject to challenge
Wesbury v. Sanders (1964)-established “one man, one vote” doctrine, overrepresentation of rural
districts in Georgia due to geography-based apportionment deemed unconstitutional for Congressional
elections, nowadays each district about 600,000 people
Reynolds v. Sims (1964)-does same thing for state legislature elections
Thornburg v. Gingles (1986)-SC said, where possible, states need to draw districts composed of majority
of minority voters but…
Shaw v. Reno (1993)-SC said that if race is the only consideration and these constituents have nothing
else in common, then unconstitutional
Bush v. Vera (1996)-SC said that cannot draw districts to be made up of a majority of a minority group