The U.S. Supreme Court issued 2 key Constitutional decisions within 2 days during summer 2013. Both were 5-4 decisions.

On June 25, 2013, in Shelby County v. Holder, they struck down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, designed to prohibit discrimination in voting by requiring federal oversight of elections, particularly in states with a history of discriminatory voting practices. The decision can be seen as a victory for the south and a setback for minority groups which have suffered voting discrimination. The case can be viewed at: link to Shelby County case

On June 26, 2013, in U.S. v. Windsor, they determined that the Defense of Marriage Act, enacted by Congress in 1996, violates the Constitutions equal protection clause by defining marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman and denying federal benefits to same-sex couples married under state law. The decision can be seen as a victory for the same-sex community. The case can be viewed at: link to Windsor case

Shelby County is characterized as a conservative decision.

5. What did the Court decide in the Obergefell v. Hodges case, decided in summer 2015?

link to Obergefell case

Did the vote follow the ideological voting pattern identified above?

6. How has the membership of the Court changed since these cases were decided?

Why is the membership of the Court going to change again in the very near future?

7. What is the result on an appellate court if the vote of the Justices is equally split? (use

Google)