Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
United States Supreme Court
576 U.S. 787 (2015)
- Written by Eric Cervone, LLM
Facts
Arizona held a referendum in which voters approved a constitutional amendment transferring federal and state legislative redistricting authority from the Arizona State Legislature (plaintiff) to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) (defendant). By this measure, the voters intended to end gerrymandering, the practice by which state legislators prescribe electoral districts that enhance one group's power at the expense of other groups. The Legislature sued the AIRC, challenging the AIRC's authority under the United States Constitution's Elections Clause, which provides that a state's "Legislature" sets the conditions under which congressional elections are held. A federal district court ruled that the Elections Clause does not confine state legislative authority to representative bodies but extends to direct legislation by referendum. The Legislature appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which as a threshold matter determined that the Legislature had standing to sue.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Ginsburg, J.)
Dissent (Thomas, J.)
Dissent (Roberts, C.J.)
Dissent (Scalia, J.)
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