Find Legal Topics > Kids Laws > Baker v. Carr

Baker v. Carr


The Background: Baker V. Carr

A law in Tennessee says that all the towns are required to provide population statistics to the state every 10 years. Each town is required to do this so the state can accurately determine jurisdictional boundaries. Mr. Charles Baker explained that Tennessee did not follow this law. In response to this accusation, the state of Tennessee said that the law to remap towns was created for political purposes and that they were following the legislation. Baker did not accept this excuse; he thought the state was required to follow the law in an exact fashion.  

Baker’s argument revolved around the Supremacy Clause. This part of the Constitution states that the Federal Government has the right to control and maintain jurisdiction over state laws. 

The Trial: Baker V. Carr

The Baker V. Carr dealt with Administrative law. This field of law is associated with how the Federal Government treats its citizens and how the government institutes its programs, creates its agencies and establishes laws. In Baker v. Carr, Mr. Charles Baker went up against Joe Carr who as an appointed representative of Tennessee. In Baker V. Carr, Baker said that the law upheld by the Tennessee Constitution regarding the establishment of districts was a violation of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

Verdict: Baker V. Carr

In Baker v. Carr, the United States Supreme Court said that Tennessee refusal to follow the expressed law of remapping the districts was in direct violation of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. This clause forces every individual citizen of the United States to be treated equally and without bias with regard to their pursuit of happiness.

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution does not allow the government to infringe on the individual person’s rights to pursue a happy life. Furthermore, Article III of the United States Constitution states that the Federal Government is allowed to rule over all laws in the event that unfair advantages are present with the creation of a law. This law was created to ensure that an equal legal process was respected throughout the United States. 

Related Topics