Supreme Court Hears Arguments That Could Upend Voting Rights Act and Reshape Electoral Maps
Supreme Court takes up a pivotal case on the Voting Rights Act and redistricting.
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority signaled it could upend a central pillar of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The question at the heart of arguments is whether lawmakers can use race as a factor when drawing congressional districts. Ali Rogin discussed the case's potential to reshape electoral maps with News Hour Supreme Court analyst and SCOTUSblog co-founder Amy Howe and David Wasserman.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who recently heard arguments related to redistricting and the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
- What are congressional districts? What is redistricting?
- What were the different arguments the Supreme Court heard?
- How does race factor into the arguments heard in the case?
- Why would politicians want to redraw electoral maps?
Essential Questions
- Do you think how the government creates congressional districts in the U.S. needs to be revised? Why or why not?
- What are some potential solutions to gerrymandering?
- Media literacy: Why do you think the News Hour interviewed David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report and Amy Howe, cofounder of SCOTUSblog?
Extension Activity
Learn more how gerrymandering has affected elections in U.S. history with this PBS News Hour Classroom explainer.
Addressing Threats to Democracy
Using the challenges to democracy in recent years as a teachable moment, we created resources to help students reflect on threats to democratic principles and explore topics such as media literacy, civil discourse, voter suppression, and misinformation.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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