USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The landmark case of White v. Regester challenged the constitutionality of a 1964 Supreme Court decision requiring the redrawing of state districts to make them all of roughly equal population size.

Detailed explanation-2: -By a 9 to 0 vote, the multi-member districts created for Dallas and Bexar counties were unconstitutional because they diluted the vote of ethnic or racial minorities.

Detailed explanation-3: -After MALDEF’s victory in White v. Regester, other civil rights groups won court decisions declaring other states’ multi-member, at-large voting districts unconstitutional. As a result, most states have abandoned them in favor of smaller districts with only one legislative representative.

Detailed explanation-4: -Litigation was immediately filed in a Texas District Court challenging the constitutionality of the reapportionment plan for the Texas House. The Texas Supreme Court eventually ruled that the legislature’s House reapportionment plan violated the Texas Constitution.