Multimember Electoral Systems and the Discriminatory Purpose Standard

Date

1981

Authors

Fuller, Jaime L.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech Law Review

Abstract

Examines the United States Supreme Court’s decision in City of Mobile v. Bolden. In Bolden, black citizens of Mobile Alabama challenged an electoral system that allegedly violated their fourteenth and fifteenth amendment rights. The Court held that an at-large, multimember electoral system can only be invalidated by a finding of a discriminatory purpose, and not “on the basis of adverse effect alone.” The author believes that courts will have a difficult time discerning between intent and impact.

Description

Keywords

Discrimination, Purpose, Effect, Election, Multimember electoral system, City of Mobile v. Bolden, Case note

Citation

12 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 743