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Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation — Minorities and the Supreme Court

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The Politics of Constitutional Reform in North America
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Abstract

When the Supreme Court Justices returned to their marble tower after the summer recess in order to open the term 1999/2000, they were greeted not only by a new docket, but also by a Tom Toles cartoon which depicted them on the bench, wearing not their accustomed black robes, but instead white, Klan-like hoods. They were probably less than thrilled by the unfriendly reference to their recent decisions regarding minority rights and their striking down electoral districts with majorities of minority voters.1 Unfair as it may seem, there is little doubt that the fate of minorities at the Supreme Court has changed quite a bit over the course of the Rehnquist years, especially during the 90s. This paper will take a closer look at some of these changes, and at the preceding years as well. The main focus will be on the Supreme Court, but the other branches of government and their contribution to constitutional reform will be looked at as well, at least in passing. First, however, we have to have a look at the minorities in question.

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Dreyer, M. (2000). Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation — Minorities and the Supreme Court. In: Schultze, RO., Sturm, R. (eds) The Politics of Constitutional Reform in North America. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-11628-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-11628-8_10

  • Publisher Name: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-663-11630-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-663-11628-8

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